Monsanto Malawi assists flood-devastated farmers with hybrid seeds

Monsanto Malawi, one of the country’s leading seed companies, on Tuesday donated maize seed worth K80 million to people of Mwanje Village in Chiradzulu after intense flooding destroyed their fields and crops and threatening local food security.

The company which was represented by the acting country manager Dalitso Gadama donated 80 metric tons of the maize seed.

Gadama said they donated the maize seeds because as Monsanto they want  to put affected farmers back on track to re- plant and harvest food during this agricultural season.

Monsanto boss said failure to respond promptly on this tragedy will have lasting consequences.

She said flood-hit families risk harvesting nothing or very little this year, leaving them food insecure at the very outset of the agricultural season and undermining much of the progress being made in reducing food insecurity in Malawi.

“That is why as Mosanto we thought of  giving these farmers free maize seeds so that they re-plant inorder to avoid hunger this year,” she said.

Gadama also said apart from helping farmers in Chiradzulu, Monsanto will distribute the maize seeds in other affected district like Mulanje, Phalombe, Chikwawa, Nsanje, Zomba, Machinga and Mangochi.

She said in total, they are targeting to reach 1,250 farmers.

The District Agriculture Officer for Chiradzulu, Sheila Kang’ombe  said 358.9  hectares of land and crops is under water in the district  and that 2,200 farmers  were affected.

Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Principal Secretary, Erica Maganga hailed Mosanto for the timely gift and asked other companies to emulate the gesture.

Maganga said government’s response plan includes a $16 million budget for agricultural needs to put affected farmers back on track to plant and harvest food during this agricultural season.

She said government in collaboration with his ministry aims to supply them with short-cycle varieties of maize, rice, sweet potato, and cassava for replanting as soon as feasible.

Maganga said irrigation facilities should also be restored before the dry season to ensure food production.

One of the beneficiaries, Marita Fosiano thanked Mnosanto for what she described it timely gesture.

“We will make sure that we re-plant the seeds. Let me assure Monsanto that we will not take this maize seed on the market,” she said.

Also present during the ceremony was the district commissioner for Chiradzulu, Some agriculture ministry officials and Mnosanto Malawi Officials.

Monsanto Company is a leading provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality.

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