Maize and Food Crops Diversification Maize is the major staple food in the country, to the extent that food security is often equated to its production and availability. While the PEOPLE’S PARTY recognizes the need to diversify the country’s food portfolio, maize will remain an important crop at least in the short term. While pushing efforts to diversify food crop production, the PEOPLE’S PARTY Government will do the following to ensure steady production and availability of maize for the country’s citizens: • Promote high yielding and drought resistant maize varieties among small-holder farmers; • Expand winter and irrigation cropping to cushion potential shortfalls from rain-fed agriculture that has become highly unreliable due to the adverse effects of climate change; • Overcome systemic bottlenecks that make the cultivation of maize as a commercial crop less viable; • Expand and improve the management of strategic grain reserves; and • Improve research capability of the ministry of agriculture and agricultural research institutions to breed seed varieties that are relevant to the country’s agro-ecological conditions. In an effort to diversify from dependence on maize, build an aggressive national campaign to promote the use of other sources of food crops such as cassava, potatoes, sorghum, millet and wheat. PEOPLES PARTY MANIFESTO OFFERING HOPE TO MALAWI
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 15:47:59 +0000