New Delhi, March 09: India has dispatched a humanitarian consignment of 1,000 metric tons of rice to Malawi to support the country’s food security efforts following a severe drought linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon.
The shipment was sent from Nhava Sheva Port as part of India’s humanitarian assistance initiative aimed at strengthening partnerships across the Global South.
Announcing the development, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said the assistance reflects India’s continued commitment to supporting partner nations and advancing the spirit of South–South cooperation.
Malawi is currently facing a severe food crisis, with more than 4 million people — about 20% of the population — experiencing acute food shortages, resulting in rising malnutrition and families skipping meals.
The crisis has been exacerbated by erratic rainfall caused by the El Niño weather pattern, which has also led to the drying up of major water bodies such as Lake Chilwa. In response, the Malawi government has declared a state of disaster.
India and Malawi maintain longstanding diplomatic ties. Last year, S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, congratulated George Chaponda on his appointment as Malawi’s Foreign Minister and expressed interest in further strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Chaponda was appointed by Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika following the formation of a new government.
Bilateral relations between India and Malawi have expanded through regular high-level engagements. In 2024, Droupadi Murmu, President of India, paid a state visit to Malawi, where she held discussions with then Malawian President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera to deepen cooperation across sectors.
During the visit, both sides witnessed the signing of memorandums of understanding covering arts and culture, youth affairs, sports and pharmaceutical cooperation.
