yields from the current crops is an indicator that most households will have food shortage from August 2005 to April 2006 if no appropriate interventions are put in place.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) recently provided $33,000 from One Great Hour of Sharing and designated funds to benefit 31,000 men, women, and children related to this crisis. Additional funds are needed.

PDA has been working with the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) since 2001 to help the country of Malawi with this crisis. CCAP is also serving as a lead agency in the Action by Churches Together (ACT) International appeal. An expanded appeal was issued on September 6, 2005 for more than $2 million.

The Chingale Program has been in existence since 2002, providing hope to the affected people of this region. It can be recalled that the program was born in response to an emergency situation that engulfed the people of Chingale in 2002. Due to a prolonged dry spell (drought), the farming season in 2001/2002 was very poor, and this resulted in a food insecurity crisis. The first phase of the Program was Relief, to address the dying and urgent needs of these people. This consisted mainly of food aid and basic medical assistance.

However, in October 2004, the Program began a Recovery and Mitigation phase, with a primary objective to empower the affected communities to regain their potential and become self-reliant. The beneficiaries were provided with farm inputs, livestock, training, etc., to enable them to “kick start” and build self -sufficiency. The intent was that they would pay back (based on agreeable terms) some of these inputs so that they are extended to other farmers, thus increasing the number of beneficiaries within a wider coverage of the program area.

It was anticipated that the program would have transitioned into a Livelihood Security Program (developmental phase) by September 30, 2005. However, the prevailing situation (drought resulting in low or no harvest/yield and increased food insecurity) which manifested itself in early May 2005, meant that the plan could not be implemented, as it became very necessary to begin preparation to respond to the looming hunger which had the propensity to derive a full bloom emergency and a likely repeat of 2002, where there was large scale human suffering and death related to hunger. In view of this, the program remained focused on completing all outstanding activities under the current phase, while carrying out a situational analysis to gather information for input into a joint (ACT-Malawi) appeal of extension #41 (now a new appeal #51), for another six months (October 2005 to March 2006), as a preparedness and response measure, thus resulting in the non-transitioning of the program.

PROGRAM UPDATE

The Chingale Recovery & Mitigation program continues to implement three components in its Recovery & Mitigation phase. These include:

1. Child Survival
2. Psychosocial
3. Food Security

Achievements updates

• 1000-50KGs of fortified maize flour and Sibusiso were purchased and distributed to children under 5, pregnant and lactating mothers and the chronically ill as a routine intervention.
• In collaboration with the District health office in Zomba, the team conducted a massive campaign on cholera sensitization / disease control and prevention. 500 persons participated.
• Distributed consignment of drugs to the five health centers: Chingale, Nkasala, Chipini, Chilipa, Mmambo.
• Conducted growth monitoring for the children under age 5, in all health centers. The results showed an increase in the # of malnourished children. In May, there were 2265 malnourished children whiles in August there were 2,948 malnourished children. This increase is as a result of more households being food in secured. Another contributing factor is the HIV/ AIDS that is increasing vulnerability, thus making households incapable of food production and other livelihood initiatives. Under weight children continue to be assisted with likuni phala as supplementary feeding.
• Conducted a Vitamin A campaign at 46 sites with a total population of 98, 789 children 6- 59 months benefiting. This intervention was implemented in order to address malnutrition so that diseases such as blindness are prevented and there is reduction in infant mortality rate.
• 5000 school children and adults received bilharzias treatment. There are plans to treat the root cause of bilharzias infections along side the treatment.

Psychosocial

Operational Objectives

• Sustain the number of children enrolled at school.
• Strengthen existing functional literacy, CBCCs and recreation groups.
• Empower women by creating awareness among the community on gender issues, child protection and other human rights issues.
• Improve school facilities.

School feeding

As a routine intervention, 27 Primary schools received fortified flour for 16,088 pupils from standard 1 to 4. Impact showed high enrolment, increase participation very good performance and improved nutritional status.

Recreation clubs

13 youth clubs are operating in the program coverage areas. The total membership is 750 children.

They played friendly matches (football and netball) and are preparing their gardens for the next growing seasons. However, they need support for farm inputs, first aid kits, transport and uniforms.

Child protection

• A total of 1450 orphans (782 boys and 668 girls) have been registered up to date. The intent is to compile a report on their conditions so that an intervention is derived.
• Conducted a three-day Child Rights & Protection training workshop for 20 participants. They were mainly caregivers, teachers, police, youth group, Gov. – Ministry of Gender and JRCs. The overall objective was to increase the participants' skills and understanding on child rights and protection so that they are able to disseminate to the larger community to ensure that children are protected at all times.

Economic activity/Gender development

Eight women groups were formed and trained on small business management skills. They are to benefit shortly from loan revolving funds in order to carry out income generating activities to promote self-sufficiency through economic empowerment.

Capacity building

Instructors from the functional literacy program benefited from four refresher courses. The basic aim was to strengthen their facilitation skills for adult literacy classes. A few topics covered included: community development, Literacy and its relationship to development programs, concept for adult literacy for problem solving and action, etc.

Forward plan

• Follow up and ensure the completion of the construction of Adult literacy classes / Centers in Howe and other areas.
• Support the women groups for the small business initiatives to prepare their plans, constitution, etc and ensure that grants are package and delivered to them.
• Follow up with management for the implementation of recommendations in the visiting Psychosocial Officer’s report.
• Follow up the activities at the CBCCs to ensure quality services.

Food Security

Operational objectives

• To improve food security of 6000 vulnerable female and male headed households.
• To enhance gender equality in all interventions by improving women participation in decision making by September 2005.
• To enhance community empowerment by creating awareness among the community of gender, HIV/AIDS and other development issues.
• To reduce hunger vulnerabilities through provision of food aid assistance to reduce malnutrition especially among vulnerable groups notably under age five children, lactating and pregnant women, the elderly, and people living with HIV/AIDs by September 2005.

Achievements

• Provided training to beneficiaries, contact farmers and members of the JRCs, chiefs and other community leaders for all inputs. Subjects covered included crop husbandry, crop diversification, manure making and small-scale livestock production.
• Improving food security for 3,000 vulnerable farming families by
  • Providing farm inputs in vegetable growing
  • Intensifying crop diversification.
  • Facilitating small scale irrigation through the provision of treadle pumps
  • Continuing and enhancing restocking of small livestock program
• Empower women by creating awareness among the community on gender issues, child protection and other human rights issues.

a) Maize crops production

The harvest was very poor due to weather condition – dry spell from January till the end of the rainy season. However beneficiaries of the maize seed managed to return 1236 bags of 50 kg of maize on recovery program. This maize has since been distributed to vulnerable household in Chingale.

b) Garden preparation

45% of targeted 6200 households have prepared their gardens in terms of clearing and ridging. The pace at which garden preparation is carried is normal within Chingale.

c) Crop diversification

Dimba/winter maize: This intervention started soon after the harvest of rain fed crops was done. In total 2478 farmers (1334 women and 1144 men) are involved in this farming covering 107 ha. The crop development has been promising such that other farmers are utilizing the green maize from their gardens.

Though stalk borer attack was observed in some fields, less than 10% of the expected yields will be affected. Spraying cypermethrin and hand killing were measures taken to control the pest.

Winter beans: 2,248 farmers covering 41 ha are participating in the program. The crops are at different levels depending on the planting periods. The levels of crops in gardens are as follows: 15% harvesting, 55% maturity and 30% flowering.

Vegetable Growing: Farmers were issued with different types of vegetable seeds. The major activities in the reporting period included sowing, transplanting, manure and fertilizer application, light weeding, watering. Almost all the crops such as tomatoes, mustard, cabbage and onions have matured and are being utilized by selling and home consuming of. There were minimal attacks of pests and diseases because control measures were put in place through the use of certified seed and application of cypermethrine.

Pigeon peas: Harvesting was completed. Average yield was 4 kg per farmer due to bad weather. This is assisting families that are food insecure because they are taking this without nsima (carbohydrate meal).

Sweet potatoes and cassava (drought tolerant crops):

Cassava cuttings and sweet potatoes vines were issued to farmers in order to improve food security at household level in case of maize failure. Unfortunately these two crops were affected by the dry spell because there was little residual moisture in the soil. However, the crops had established fairly well in four of the 12 centers namely; Waliyala, Guta, Kutchiri and Kalaizinje.

d) Irrigation

The program using treadle pumps was introduced after noting that the area had erratic rains over the past years, and small scale irrigation. 70 Treadle pumps were provided to 350 farmers. 5 farmers are utilizing one treadle pump and they are growing crops such as maize, beans, onions, vegetables and sweet potatoes. All the treadle pumps were functional. Crops are doing fairly well. Major operations carried out were weeding, fertilizer application. Mild attack by stalk borer on maize, leaf eaters on vegetables were observed. Control measures were hand killing, spraying of cypermethrine in maize and Sevin in vegetables.

e) Livestock Restocking

This activity has received high support from the community and is going on well. The small-scale livestock animals that were provided include goat, chickens and guinea fowls. Recoveries on goats are progressing well so that now there are second recipients.

The method of grazing is free-range system where by goats are taken by herd boys to areas that have grass to graze. Grazing is normally done along riverbanks and crop residues. The chickens from the program are in good health. So too are guinea fowls. Guinea fowls start laying eggs in October. In this phase of distribution, 28 animals (goats) died of mouth sores.

f) Extension services

To build capacity of community members and leaders, several trainings were provided in order to empower the community. During the training, areas that were covered were: Livestock management, compost manure making, vegetable growing and irrigation using treadle pumps.

• Conducted meetings with community leaders (JRC and village Headmen) to discuss discrepancies on numbers of 50kgs bags of recovery maize that was collected from Luwezi, Fikira and Nkasala centers. It was discovered that two collections from Nkasala were combined with Mbukwite and this was recorded as Mbukwite recovery giving a shortfall on Nkasala. Attendance was 28 leaders (19 men and 9 women).
• Conducted six demonstrations on correct methods of fertilizer application on winter/dimba maize at Mbukwite, Chibwana, Nkasala, Fikira, Guta and Kuchiri. Attendance was 67 farmers (32 men and 35 women).
• Distributed 235 packets of assorted vegetables seeds to 102 farmers (34 men and 68 women). The seed was sown and germination was at 97percent. Transplanting was done by 46 farmers (20 men and 26 women).
• Five goats were treated on mange, psychosis and tuber diseases. One goat died. 27 Guinea Fowls were treated due to respiratory disorders at Joseph Village while the goats were treated at Waliyala, Ntambo and Kololo villages.
• 0.02 ha was planted to sweet potatoes at Kuchiri demonstration garden
• Conducted a strategic planning meeting at Kadziotche vegetable club. It was attended by 63 farmers (35 men and 28 women). Topics discussed included: reviewing constitution, formation of sub-committees. 3 sub committees were formed namely: discipline committee, HIV/AIDS and Research Marketing.

Forward plans in Food Security

• Club-reorganization meetings
• Conduct refresher course for maize seed multiplication farmers
• Procurement of farm inputs
• Conduct pests and diseases mitigation course
• Conduct two open days
• Conduct orientation meetings with Mtchera and Kuchiri nutrition enhancement groups
• Conduct kitchen campaigns at Masaula, Kandwiche, Chinseu and Chibwana villages
• Ear tagging 400 goats
• Conduct Newcastle vaccinations campaigns
• Motorcycle servicing at Stansfied Motors

Neno

The people in Neno suffered a severely poor harvest from last year's planting seasons that left them very vulnerable and needed urgent food aid assistance. In response to this appeal for an urgent intervention, a separate proposal was developed by the then Program Manager (Lugano) and donors such as NCA, PDA, etc supported it financially. There were food aid and medical assistance to some 3000 hunger stricken people in these areas. The intervention that started in March 05 was meant to be completed in May 05 as a “One of intervention” but due to the delay in funding disbursement, the exercise ended in mid July. The program hired 2 staff (one food monitor and one supervisor) to work along with the community structures (Joint relief committees, Village group headmen, etc) and local authority in the implementation of the food delivery.

Major impacts during this time were:

• There was improvement in the nutritional status of children especially and other vulnerable people.
• Joint Relief Committees members were trained in leadership and other skills.