Malawi declares drought disaster

Malawi declared drought disaster amid a severe rainfall shortage that compromised the landlocked country’s agriculture-dependent economy.

Malawi is the second country in the region after Zambia to declare drought emergency as climate change bites, triggering dry spells such as El Nino, blamed for ravaging crops.

This year, rainfall has been erratic and insufficient as drought led many farmers to cut planted area.

Drought has impacted the livelihoods of farmers and worsened inflation in Malawi which has depleted its foreign exchange reserves.

Zimbabwe is also expected to declare drought emergency as well as many other Southern African countries, hit by El Nino.