Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Shadow Member of Parliament for Blantyre North constituency Josaya Mayani has urged people in the area to move from rain fed agriculture to irrigation in order to combat devastating effects of climate change such as hunger.

Speaking at Namikasi Secondary School ground at M’deka in Blantyre, Mayani highlighted that the area is rich as it is blessed with free water from Shire river,saying if fully utilized can help in intensifying irrigation system which would result in double harvest per year.

“You can manage to build descent houses and send your children to better schools using the money realized from irrigation farming,” he told the gathering.

The aspirant Member of Parliament further said if voted into power, he will introduce mega farms and farm cooperatives to advance government’s agenda of agriculture commercialization and assist the communities become economically independent.

Mayani however expressed concern over the attitude of some people who are selling their customary lands to visitors, saying the trend is likely to perpetrate hunger and rend posterity in total disgrace as they will have no land for cultivation.

He further asked people who did not register in the just ended voter registration to register in ongoing supplementally voter registration process for them to choose leaders of their choice in the forthcoming general elections.

District constituency representative Henderson Moyenda lamented that the area has been hit by hunger and has since asked the state president Lazarus Chakwera and his vice Michael Usi to assist the area with food relief items.
In response, Mayani said he has already submitted the request to relevant authorities on the same,adding that maize distribution to vulnerable households will commence soon.

Blantyre North constituency is currently being headed by the opposition Democratic Progressive party parliamentarian Francis mphiso and the area has two Traditional Authorities, Lundu and Chigaru.