Malawi President Peter Mutharika declared a state of national disaster on Wednesday following a food shortage caused by strong El Nino conditions.

Speaking in a State of the Nation Address, Mutharika said that following the dry spell, the country has registered a drop in food production.

He appealed for humanitarian support from countries, organizations and well wishers.

The production of Mozambique's major food staple maize has declined by 12.4 percent, and drought and floods has left 17 percent of the country's population in dire need of food.