MALAWI – Maize prices in Malawi, the country’s staple grain, has shown a declining trend according to a research done by one of the country’s leading dailies, The Nation.
The research attributed the drop to increased availability of the commodity due to relief efforts, functioning Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) and the lifting of an import ban.
According to The Nation, distribution of free maize to food-insecure families by the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) have increased availability and eased demand in some markets across the Northern Region, especially in Karonga and Chitipa districts.
In addition, while conducting the research, The Nation spoke with several vendors and consumers across the country and found considerable decline in the price of maize.
Grace Mijiga-Mhango, president of Grain Traders Association of Malawi confirmed the findings, noting that maize prices were shifting downwards due to formal imports that have begun trickling in.
“We had a tour recently across the country, in places where Admarc has maize, prices from vendors go down. However, the moment vendors know that there is no maize in Admarc depots, the prices go up.
“Similarly, where Dodma is distributing maize, prices also go down. But overall, we expect that the prices will continue to go down once more maize arrives from Tanzania.”
Mijiga-Mhango further said as people start consuming other foods such as pumpkins and other farm produce, the demand for maize will decline further.
Government commits to ensure access to affordable food
Meanwhile, in a different occasion, Sam Kawale, the Minister of Agriculture announced that the government plans to release more maize from SGRs as a committed to make the commodity available and ensure that every Malawian has access to affordable food.
“For this reason, the ministry, through Admarc, will continue to distribute maize across the country as a way of stabilising prices.
“As more maize is found in Admarc, together with maize being given by Dodma, allowing importation of maize and flour from other countries and helping people have money through social cash transfer programmes.”
According to Kawale, due to availability of maize, there will be a significant drop in flour prices across the country.
In December last year, the SGR Committee allocated 10 000 metric tonnes (MT) of maize to Admarc to be distributed in its 240 markets.
Admarc markets in the Northern Region each received 75 metric tonnes (MT) while outlets in the Central and Southern regions each received 85 metric tonnes.
According to the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee over 4.4 million people are at risk of acute hunger this year due to maize shortage.
For all the latest grains industry news from Africa, the Middle East, and the World, subscribe to our weekly NEWSLETTERS, follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.