Malawi's Fertilizer Budget Shifting to Irrigation to Counter Drought

After two successive droughts, Malawi is diverting almost half of its budget for state-sponsored fertiliser subsidies to irrigation.

Malawiian Agriculture Minister George Chaponda told News24 on Tuesday that from the fertiliser subsidies annual budget of $98m, government was redirecting $40m to irrigation.

He attributed the change of strategy as a tactic to counter climate change.

"We can no longer bury our heads in the sand. Climate change is exacting a deadly toll on this nation that our efforts to fight hunger are in jeopardy," Chaponda said in an interview

With about three million Malawians poised to require food aid, Chaponda said Malawians were bearing the brunt of climate change.

http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/drought-hit-malawi-turns-to-irrigation-20160511

Trocaire

#solar