By Mabuchi Chunga

Economics Association of Malawi (ECAMA) has called on the government to intensify food diversification in order to control food inflation during the lean period.

ECAMA executive director Kettie Nyasulu said during the lean period the price of maize goes up due to scarcity which affects the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) basket affecting the headline inflation.

Nyasulu said the government should enhance awareness on the variety of food that people generate and consume.

“Food is not only maize there is a variety such as cassava, rice, sweet potatoes so there is that need to encourage people to diversify so that we ease the pressure on food inflation,” he said.

Nyasulu also stressed the need for the government to come up with proactive measures to control what happens in the event that there are natural disasters that affect the maize crop.