People in Mzimba have applauded Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) for resuming the selling of maize at its markets in the district.
Speaking on Monday after buying a ration of 10 kilogrammes (kg) of maize, Edna Banda, a small-scale businessperson, said it was a relief to finally buy the commodity at affordable prices.
Admarc market on Monday . | Sarah PhirI
Due to maize scarcity, prices have continued to rise in most parts of the country with some vendors selling a kg at K1 500, translating to K75 000 per 50kg bag.
That price is about 90 percent higher than that of Admarc at K790 per kg or K39 500 per 50kg bag.
Said Banda: “Today, I have been able to buy maize at K790 per kg while vendors are selling the same at K1 400 per kg. I feel very relieved because I did not have any food to feed my children.”
However, she asked Adma rc to cons ide r increasing the quantity one can buy as 10kg takes a family of five only 10 days.
“The quantity of maize that we buy is only enough for a few days for large household like mine. We need about 40 kg to sustain us for a month,” she said.
Last month, Admarc
spokesper son Teresa Chapulapula said out of about 360 markets, 331 were opened and the corporation will continue to open its markets in rural areas.
“It also needs to be known that this year, Admarc bought 90 percent of its maize stocks in the Northern Region and we are, therefore, moving this maize from the markets and warehouses in Karonga, Chitipa, Nkhata Bay and Mzuzu to various markets in the country,” she said.
In its report on the 2024/25 harvest season, the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee, a multi-stakeholder grouping, projected an escalation in food prices, especially during the lean season.
The report also projected that about 5.7 million Malawians would face hunger during the lean period from last October to March.
