Malawi secures 20,000MT of maize imports from Tanzania to combat worsening food crisis
MALAWI – Malawi’s National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) has announced the importation of 20,000 metric tons of maize from Tanzania, a decisive move to address the country’s escalating food shortage.
This decision imports are in response to limited domestic supply and escalating costs, which have reached approximately K1,200 (US$1.01) per kilogram.
The initial shipment of 9,400 metric tons is expected to arrive shortly, underscoring the government’s commitment to mitigating the crisis.
George Macheka, Director of the NFRA, emphasized that this importation aims to alleviate the current food scarcity. “We are working to distribute the maize to all parts of the country,” Macheka stated.
Additionally, the NFRA plans to import an extra 50,000 metric tons from other nations to bolster local production.
Recently, The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) expressed concern over the dramatic maize price hikes in Malawi, signaling a crisis for consumers already grappling with food insecurity.
According to the FAO’s Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin for January 2025, maize prices increased by 29% in January, reaching a record high of MK1,243 (US$ 1.21) per kilogram, marking a 38% rise compared to the same period last year.
The FAO attributes these price hikes to domestic supply pressures, stemming from a reduced national maize harvest in 2024 and a weakened local currency, which has increased the cost of importing key agricultural inputs.
In addition, the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee’s (MVAC) recent report indicates that approximately 5.7 million people, accounting for 28% of the population, are facing food insecurity.
Accoring to the report, as of February 2025, retail prices in Lilongwe and Blantyre have reached approximately MWK 989.48 (US$0.57) per kilogram, placing immense strain on household budgets.
In response to the crisis, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of Malawi recently signed an agreement to import 48,000 metric tons of maize, valued at US$35 million, funded by the World Bank Group.
The funding is a response to the Crisis Emergency Response Component (CERC) of the Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa—Phase 3, a World Bank Group programme that helps countries quickly access resources during emergencies.
Under this agreement, WFP will procure and transport around 48,000 metric tons of maize from Tanzania to Malawi to fill some of the food deficit caused by the El Niño drought.
The Government of Malawi will distribute the food to approximately 954,000 households, in a national effort to alleviate hunger and assist in ensuring that communities have access to food until the next harvest, which will occur between April and July.
The Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) has received 10,000 metric tons of maize from the Strategic Grain Reserve, ensuring availability for sale until March 2025. Theresa Chapulapula, Admarc’s spokesperson, assured that logistics are being coordinated to maintain a steady market supply, with plans to continue sales throughout the season.
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