Admarc partially opens, rations maize
State produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) yesterday partially opened its markets in some parts of the country by restricting individuals to buying a maximum of 25 kilogramme (kg) maize.
However, the turnout was low in the markets that had maize in stock, especially in the Southern Region which is due to have 10 000 metric tonnes (MT) during the first phase. In the Central and Northern regions, deliveries were yet to be made by mid afternoon yesterday.
Admarc has pegged maize at K600 per kg.
Spot-checks showed that Zingwangwa Admarc Market in Blantyre had a short queue. Officials said the market received 300 bags of 50kg each, but as at midday yesterday, they had sold 16 bags.
Other Admarc markets in Blantyre City such as Chilomoni,
Nancholi and Bangwe were not open by 12noon. The situation was similar in Mangochi, Mulanje, Thyolo, Chiradzulu and Nsanje as they were yet to receive the staple grain for sale.
In an interview yesterday, Admarc general manager Daniel Makata said the decision to sell a maximum of 25kgs per person is a control measure to ensure many Malawians access Admarc maize.
He acknowledged that some districts were yet to start selling maize, but expressed optimism that by the end of this week almost all the 230 Admarc markets targeted in the first phase will have maize for sale.
Said Makata: “The intention of this sale is to allow people access maize for food and if we allow people to buy as much as they want, we will eventually invite vendors.
“Currently, we are loading maize from various depots to all the markets that were
listed by the Ministry [of Agriculture] and each market will receive maize as per tonnage that it was allocated.”
About 50 metres from Zingwangwa Admarc Market, some vendors were selling maize at K700 per kg or K35 000 per 50 kg bag and some residents were seen opting to buy from them.
One of the Zingwangwa residents Joyce Kambewa said she opted to buy maize from a vendor due to Admarc’s rationing of the grain to a maximum of 25kg per person.
In the Northern Region, Nkhata Bay Central legislator Symon Vuwa Kaunda (Democratic Progressive Party) said they were still waiting for the grain because people in his area and Nkhata Bay District at large were facing serious shortage of the commodity.
The lakeshore district is expected to receive 300MT of maize, distributed to Boma, Usisya, Chitheka, Chintheche and Mzenga markets.
Said Kaunda: “We have got nothing so far and we hope that the grain will come soon because our people are suffering. The prices charged by vendors are too much. We believe the price for Admarc will help bring a breather.”
His Likoma counterpart Ashems Songwe (Malawi Congress Party) said Admarc officials communicated to him that they were sorting out transport issues.
He said: “If they decide to use the normal Malawi Shipping Company vessel like they do, we will get the maize next week Tuesday, but if they decide to hire a boat, that will be any day.”
In Karonga, our correspondent Jordan Simeon Phiri and a legislator who sought anonymity said the grain was yet to get to the district which is expecting 600MT.
In the district, the grain will be distributed to 10 markets, across four constituencies, namely Karonga Nyungwe, Karonga Central, Karonga North East and Karonga North.
The entire region will get 1150MT.
Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale last week told Parliament that 12 640MT of maize will be sold by Admarc during the first phase, with the Southern Region getting 10 170MT, Central Region 1 320MT and the North getting1 150MT.
Earlier, the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture proposed a price of K500 or below per kg.
This year, Admarc was not involved in maize procurement as the function was undertaken by National Food Reserve Agency
