President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika on Wednesday launched the 2016/2017 National Food Insecurity Response Plan at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe with the call to organisations and development partners to support Malawi in breaking the cycle of food insecurity.

In his speech, Mutharika said the food response plan will provide immediate solution to people who are affected by the dry spell in the country.

“The food insecurity response plan identified area of food security; Agriculture nutrition, water sanitation and hygiene, health, education and protection are the key priorities for immediate assistance.

“Our response plan is intending to address the needs of the affected communities holistically,’’ said Mutharika adding that through the response plan his government has put in place many measures to ensure that the cycle of food insecurity is broken once and for all.

Mutharika further said Malawi experiences food shortage due to extreme weather patterns, floods and prolonged dry spell. In his address the Malawi Leader said Government will ensure that the price of maize is stabilized and protected.

The total budget for the National Food Insecurity Plan is 380 million dollars.

Meanwhile, over 6.5 million people in the country need food humanitarian assistance due to El Niño phenomenon that resulted into food short