This is according to a Statement signed by Secretary for economic planning, development, and public sector reforms Mr. Winford Masanjala.

"The country will need 35,296 metric tonnes of maize with an estimated cash of 7.9 billion kwacha."

"Vulnerable people in rural areas will require food assistance for a period of 2 to 3 months while those in bomas and cities will require food assistance for two months," said Masanjala

The assessment covered all 28 districts of the country including the 4 cities Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu, and Zomba and it has revealed that the food insecure population has decreased by 43% from 2,642,336 people in 2020 to 1,496,396 people in 2021.

Masanjala said this year’s food security assessment has included Boma’s in order to determine the impact of Covid-19 on food security among the district peri-urban population.

He said, the decrease in the affected population is due to increased agriculture production as a result of good rainfall distribution, and increased access to fertilizer, and improved seeds.

This has been attributed to various degrees of dry spells, early cessation of rainfall, fall armyworm infestation, crop diseases, flooding, and waterlogging in some districts.

"The Humanitarian Response Committee will deliberate on the appropriate response strategies and Malawians should not be worried because the country has adequate maize to assist those that have been affected," said Masanjala.