Christian Aid week begins today (Sunday) with the focus on providing farmers with hardier crops.

The charity says countries such as Malawi are paying the price for global crises with food, fuel and fertiliser doubling in price in the last 12 months.

Farmers are also seeing their harvests fail as climate change brings increasingly erratic weather.

The Archbishop of Wales is among those urging people to take part in the week with prayers and donations to support people in Malawi.

Most Rev Andrew John said, “This Christian Aid Week is our chance to focus on our sisters and brothers in Malawi who are battling desperate poverty. I urge you to support their work in your donations and your prayers so their lives can be transformed. Please give generously to the Christian Aid appeal.”

The interim head of Christian Aid Wales, the Revd Andrew Sully, will be addressing the congregations of Llandaff Cathedral about the charity’s work. He said :

“I’m looking forward to these services and meeting our supporters. Christian Aid Week is a time of great joy and hope when we stand together with our global neighbours in a very focused way to tackle poverty.

“Farming is hugely symbolic because it helps us remember small things done together can grow to make bigger differences. We are hugely grateful to all our supporters for their amazing efforts; we couldn’t do it without them.”

Christian Aid says more hardy crops include the super-resilient pigeon pea which enriches the soil for future harvests. Supporters of the week which runs until 20th May, are being invited to hold pea-themed events to raise money.