By Wezzie Gausi:
The National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) has imported 20,000 metric tonnes of maize from Tanzania as it is reported to be cheaper than in Malawi.
NFRA Chief Executive Officer George Macheka confirmed in an interview, saying the decision comes as domestic maize prices rocketed to between K1,600 and K1,800 per kilogram.
Macheka said the importation aimed to ease pressure on the local maize market, increase supply, and stabilise prices.
“The additional funding we received towards the end of 2024 allowed us to import maize to support both humanitarian assistance and Admarc’s [Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation] affordable maize sales.
“This intervention ensures that people affected by hunger can access free maize through Dodma [Department of Disaster Management Affairs], while Admarc sells maize at K790 per kg.” he said.
The maize importation follows a devastating El Niño-induced drought that severely impacted Malawi during the 2023- 24 cropping season, leaving over 5.7 million people across 23 districts in Malawi facing food insecurity.
Despite the relief brought by the imported maize, NFRA is yet to commence maize procurement for the current harvesting season as it awaits the approval of the National Budget.
The delay has raised concerns, with Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture Chairperson Sameer Suleman describing the situation as worrisome.
“The government could have introduced deliberate laws to regulate maize prices and protect both farmers and consumers,” Suleman said. “It is disheartening that while NFRA and Admarc have no maize in stock, vendors are already dominating the market.”
Suleman further criticized the government’s failure to allocate resources to NFRA and Admarc in time, making it difficult for these institutions to compete with private buyers.
“In Zambia, it is a policy that vendors are barred from buying maize from farmers until government agencies have completed their procurement. This ensures stable maize reserves and fair prices. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Agriculture here has ignored such strategies,” he said.
To prevent similar challenges in the upcoming season, Macheka said NFRA plans to commence maize procurement as early as April.
The goal is to enable farmers to sell their produce at fair prices while ensuring the country has sufficient maize reserves.
“We are committed to ensuring that maize is available and accessible to all Malawians. Early procurement will help us secure enough stocks before prices spiral,” he said.
As the nation navigates its food security crisis, stakeholders continue to call for policy reforms that promote efficient maize procurement, safeguard local farmers, and protect consumers from soaring prices.
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