By Prisca Mashushu
Department of climate change and meteorological services has expressed satisfaction over the presentation of the 2024-2025 rainy season which shows that the country will have good rainfall that will help to boost the agriculture sector to produce hamper yields.
Speaking during the press briefing, on Friday, in Lilongwe, Director for department of climate change and meteorological services, Lucy Mtilatila said people should expect normal rainfall especially from December this year to April next year compared to last year as it was above normal rainfall.
“The onset will be a bit erratic especially October and November it doesn’t look good but the moment the season sets in December, farmers should expect good rainfall.
“We are also expecting intense rainfall hence challenges of floods are to be expected, but farmers should have high hopes to produce good yields,” she said.
She further added that Malawi will be slightly affected by El Niño with above rainfall in Southern Africa including Malawi with positive results compared to last year.
The Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Dr. Yusuf Nkungula highlighted that the 2024/2025 rainy season outlook will benefit farmers in planning and preparing at the right time in order to produce good yields.“People should expect good rains this season and farmers are encouraged to plan properly so that it can help them to harvest more yields,” he said.
He further said the national climate outlook will also help in effective planning and good implementation of climate change.
Director of resources for the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, James Chitete said 2024/2025 rainy season outcome will help the department of climate change and meteorological services to work symbiotically with the Ministry of Water and Sanitation on how to manage meteorological focus and hydrological services in terms of floods and other natural disasters.
“This will benefit Malawians as it specializes on duties of various sectors to share various issues concerning climate change in the country,” he explained.
“It is worth noting that 2023/2024 rainy season caused many natural disasters including floods, heavy rains which destroyed people’s homes and lives,” Chitete said.
