By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, March 20, Mana: Some elderly persons in Chitipa District have commended government through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) for distributing relief maize to households during the lean period.

75-year-old Efa Msukwa of Amos 2 Village in Senior Chief Mwenemisuku in the district thanked DoDMA for the relief maize, which, she said, will go a long way in ensuring that she has food for her family.

Msukwa said this on Wednesday at Chipwela in Senior Chief Mwenemisuku during the distribution of relief maize under the 2024/2025 lean season response programme across the district.

She said she had no staple food in her home and was eating what she had at her disposal.

“The maize I have received will help me and my family as I wait to harvest my maize from the field which I did not apply any fertilizer,” Msukwa said.

Elias Sichula, 83, of Masyesye Village in Senior Chief Mwabulambya in the district said the relief has come at the right time when families are experiencing hunger.

“I am happy to receive this 50 kilogramme bag of maize. This will help me, together with my family, have some meals,” Sichula said.

Chitipa District Council Disaster Risk Management Officer, Mphatso Nedson, said during this year's lean season, the district will provide relief maize to 5,791 beneficiary households who are in the programme.

Nedson appealed to the beneficiaries to utilize the assistance received by making sure that they do not sell it.

“This maize distribution is the last for this lean season because it was supposed to run for three months. We hope to have bumper yield this year and it is my plea to households to avoid selling farm produce,” he appealed.

The 2024/2025 lean season response programme for Chitipa was for January, February and March.