By Patricia Kapulula

Lilongwe, May 17, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has emphasized on the need to enhance climate smart agriculture in order to build self-reliant and climate resilient communities to address effects of climate change amongst communities.

He was speaking at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Friday during the launch of the Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) 2024 Flag Week.

He said climate smart agriculture that includes winter cropping through the use of irrigation technologies are important in addressing climate change related shocks.

“Presently, Malawi is in the midst of the state of disaster which I declared almost two months ago in 23 districts of the country on account of El Niño weather conditions that have destroyed much of the country’s food crops adding to the already acute food shortages caused by Cyclone Freddy last year, cyclones ANA and Gombe a year before,” he said.

The cyclone has left a total of nine million Malawians in need of food assistance this year.

President Chakwera, therefore, called upon Malawians to support MRCS whose work, he said, is important in the advancement of the welfare of Malawians.

“MRCS is an indispensable player with operations worth of our support. There is need to enhance response to humanitarian aid as implications of food crisis on public health are enormous and demand collaborative efforts to ensure that every Malawian household is reached with the necessary humanitarian support,” said Chakwera.

The President made a donation of K2 million towards the Flag Week.

Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, appealed to Malawians to join hands in helping MRCS raise funds for its humanitarian activities.

MRCS President Innocent Majiya, said the society is expected to raise K160 million that could see them having readily available funds in their reserves for emergencies.

He, therefore, appealed to well-wishers and the corporate world to support them with donations towards the cause.

“With so many global challenges competing for attention and resources, the Red Cross movement is committed to addressing the forgotten crises around the world.

“Beyond borders and amidst our diverse backgrounds, the unity of our movement lies in shared commitment to humanitarian action,” he said.

As part of activities to raise funds during the week, MRCS has organized a Cycling for Humanity which aims to raise K100 million for disaster response.

Two cyclists, Dziwani Mwachumu and Kenneth Chikazunga will, on Monday, cycle from Lilongwe to Blantyre on voluntary basis.

It is expected that Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima will send off the cyclists from Lilongwe whose cycle will take two days.

MRCS Flag Week, which is held to raise funds for various activities, follows commemoration of the Red Crescent Day which falls on May 8 every year.