Malawi among the twelve countries on climate change hit-list

According to a Reuters and AlertNet report published in Johannesburg, 8 July 2009 the World Bank has made a list of the five main threats arising from climate change: droughts, floods, storms, rising sea levels, and greater uncertainty in agriculture. Four of the world's poorest nations top the list of the 12 countries at the highest risk.

Malawi is among the four poorest countries at risk of being negatively impacted by climate change.

“Malawi, a low-income southern African country where most people live in rural areas and earn US$975 or less per year, is most susceptible to droughts, which are likely to become more frequent and intense. It has had two serious droughts in the past 20 years and a prolonged dry spell in 2004”.

But then there is an old adage: “every dark cloud has a silver lining".

The impact of a drought can be potentially damaging on a largely rain-fed agricultural economy such as Malawi. However, drought as a risk is manageable and its consequences can be mitigated.

As a development programmer I find this news from the World Bank an opportunity for Malawi. We need to use this forecast to mobilize resources to invest in the recently unveiled Green Belt Initiative, an agricultural programme to be implemented along Lake Malawi. This programme should be complemented with other upland small scale irrigation schemes.

In his May 2009 inaugural address the President of Malawi, Dr Bingu Wa Mtharika said:

“…We will remain committed in ensuring that our current food production levels increase further to sustain the country’s food self-sufficiency. We will also implement the Green Belt Initiative along Lake Malawi and major rivers throughout the country. We want to increase production of crops such as maize, millet, potatoes, beans, lentils and sugarcane…”

Besides, with our vast water resources (Lakes Malawi, Chirwa and Chiuta; perennial rivers: Shire, Ruo, Bua, Linthipe, Songwe, Rukuru, Lufira, Lweya) we can easily manage and mitigate the effects of droughts and sustain our food security. We do not have much time though - what we need to start doing right away is to harness these water resources to promote irrigated agriculture.

Dr Kennedy Lweya