The Malawi Government has shifted from distributing maize to providing K90,000 cash transfers to vulnerable households as part of efforts to address hunger during the lean season.
In Salima District, 11,088 households participating in the Social Cash Transfer Programme, along with an additional 27,088 vulnerable households, have begun receiving K90,000 each through a food distribution initiative.
Minister of Labour and Skills Development Joel Chigona launched the exercise at Makande in the area of Senior Chief Maganga, where he urged beneficiaries to use the money responsibly by prioritising the purchase of food.
He said that each household will receive K90,000, targeting a total of 121,896 households, while 38,787 people in Salima will benefit from the assistance.
The intervention targets households identified as vulnerable by the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA).
The rollout forms part of a wider lean season response programme expected to benefit about 600,000 people from 121,896 households across five districts: Salima, Mchinji, Machinga, Mangochi, and Likoma, with support from KfW Development Bank.
KfW portfolio coordinator for the Social Cash Transfer Programme, Private Sector and Natural Resources, Hendrine Kachule Makolosi, said the initiative will directly reach over 600,000 people, including about 250,000 children, 56,000 elderly persons, and more than 21,000 people living with disabilities.
She said the programme is valued at about 5.6 million euros (approximately K6 billion), with additional support from the German government estimated at K7 billion.
Chigona, who represented Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Mary Navicha, said the government has introduced strict accountability measures, including the use of mobile money platforms, to reduce fraud in the disbursement process.
Salima District Council Chairperson Fazili Adams welcomed the intervention, saying many households in the district were affected by dry spells that destroyed crops, leaving them at risk of hunger.
He appealed for continued support, noting that this year’s harvest was not sufficient.
One of the beneficiaries, Rashid Umali from Chiphole Village under Senior Chief Maganga, expressed gratitude to the government for the support during difficult times.
He said the K90,000 has enabled him to buy two bags of maize to help reduce hunger in his household.
The initiative builds on a government programme introduced in November last year aimed at reaching nearly four million households nationwide affected by food insecurity.
