Admarc opens markets, no scramble for maize
State produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) yesterday opened its markets with no scramble for maize pegged at K250 per kilogramme (kg) or K12 500 per 50kg bag.
The new prices follow a directive by President Peter Mutharika last week Friday.
At the time the corporation closed its markets for restocking in July this year, it was selling maize at K110 per kg, translating to K5 500 per 50kg bag.
Admarc markets were associated with long queues of people scrambling to buy the staple grain with some reportedly getting injured in the process.
Whe The Nation visited some Admarc depots in Blantyre yesterday, officials reported having enough maize stocks, but few customers trickling in.
Some officials interviewed indicated that customers were shunning the markets and buying from nearby vendors who are selling the staple grain between K11 500 and K12 000 per 50kg bag.
Yesterday’s opening of Admarc markets comes amid pressure from some sections of society who lamented that the closure was putting many Malawians in a difficult situation.
On October 2, the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Irrigation issued a seven-day ultimatum to Admarc to open its markets to facilitate easy access to maize by Malawians.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, the committee’s chairperson Joseph Chidanti-Malunga said they were delighted that the markets have finally been opened to allow poor Malawians access maize.
On the new selling price, he said the committee does not have a problem with it considering that Admarc bought the grain from local traders at the same price.
“In fact, at first we were scared that the price might shoot to about K400 per kg but now we are glad they settled for this,” he said.
However, Malunga said the committee is yet to be furnished with information on whether the country has enough maize stocks in its grain reserves. He further said the committee will be meeting Admarc officials today on the issue.
Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) executive director John Kapito hailed Admarc for the new prices, saying it will deter vendors from taking advantage of poor Malawians.
He said: “Even though the prices are not affordable, what matters is that maize will be available to consumers. Last year, we had a scenario whereby vendors took advantage of low prices at Admarc and drained the markets of the commodity which they sold at exorbitant prices to desperate Malawians. I am sure this will not be the case this year.”
Announcing the new maize price at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe during a news conference on his trip to the United States of America (USA) to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Mutharika said he instructed Admarc to sell maize at the same price they were buying.
According to the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (Mvac) report, whose asssessment was conducted in all districts of the country except Likoma in October last year, this year Malawi is going through the worst food shortage in eight years. n
