Despite maize purchases getting a K120 billion allocation in the 2026/27 National Budget, the government has released K5 billion, raising fears that agencies trusted to buy the grain will enter the market late.
From the allocation, K60 billion is for National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) but is yet to get a tambala while Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) has received only K5 billion.
The Nation has also established that out of the 200 000 metric tonnes (MT) of maize that government bought from Zambia, only 103 000MT was paid for and arrived in the country.
In an interview last week, NFRA chief executive officer Bruce Munthali expressed worry that vendors have already stormed almost all parts of the country, buying from farmers desperate to sell and earn some cash.
He said: “We have made good progress with government on how we plan to buy the maize, but as I speak, no money has been provided yet. It is worrisome because vendors are already out there, buying from farmers.
“If we delay, we may find that much of the stock is gone. But I am confident that resources will be provided soon, and with our roadmap, we will be able to buy the maize as required.”
Munthali also disclosed that discussions are ongoing regarding the 97 000MT of maize in Zambia, but insisted that priority is on buying maize from local farmers.
NFRA plans to buy 108 000MT this year while Admarc is targeting 65 000MT of the staple grain.
In a written response yesterday, agriculture think-tank Mwapata Institute executive director William Chadza said the situation will affect the State’s capability to manage strategic grain reserves.
He said: “This could even complicate the State’s capability in addressing the potential effects of the envisaged El Nino in the coming season. Farmers will face challenges to purchase inputs for the next season because they may not be able to raise enough money from their produce sales.
“Perhaps government should revisit the planning and funding mechanisms for these State agencies to ensure that they have the capability to enter the market on time and effectively participate in a competitive market.”
Agriculture policy expert Tamani-Nkhono Mvula feared that the little maize available on the market is going to be taken away by vendors, meaning, these two institutions will then be buying from vendors in future.
On his part, agriculture economist Horace Phiri from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) suspected that the delays in funding could be a result of inadequate resources by government.
“It can also be a matter of trying to meet fiscal targets, like maintaining expenditure under specific thresholds,” he said.
Agriculture extension expert Leonard Chimwaza said it becomes difficult to control maize prices by government, if it does not have enough in the silos, let alone when NFRA and Admarc are not on the market.
Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation Joseph Mwanamvekha did not respond to calls at the weekend.
But in his presentation of the 2026/27 Budget, he said the government intends to ensure that the Strategic Grain Reserves are replenished to their full capacity to achieve national food self-sufficiency.
