Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) says it will start buying maize in May this year with an initial target of 70 000 metric tonnes (MT).
Speaking yesterday when Deputy Minister of Agriculture Benedicto Chambo visited Midima Admarc market in Blantyre yesterday, Admarc chief executive officer Daniel Makata said they will start with the purchase of about 20 000 MT with K20 billion allocated in the 2025/26 National Budget.
He said government also allocated Admarc other funds and has allowed the State grain trader to borrow additional K95 billion from commercial banks to purchase 50 000 MT of maize and other produce such as soybeans, groundnuts and pigeon peas.
He said Admarc will export some of the commodities to foreign markets, which have already been identified.
Said Makata: “We are immediately going into the markets to buy beans and when maize gets ready in May, we will start buying the produce.
“We will not wait for the maize to dry before buying because we have procured driers, which will allow us to reduce the moisture content of the grain.”
In total, government has allocated K60 billion towards maize purchases in the next budget, of which K40 billion will go to the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA).
Currently, Admarc is continuing to sell maize at K790 per kilogramme in its markets nationwide.
At Midima Admarc market, community members complained about the low amount of maize available.
In his remarks, Chambo said the market is receiving 300 bags of maize per week and the plan is that the amount should increase.
“We are trying as a ministry to control the flow of maize in different markets across the country to ensure that people have access to maize,” said the deputy minister.
Admarc opened most of its markets in December 2024 with the aim of stabilizing maize prices during the lean period, which is usually characterised by an increase in food prices and food scarcity.
Earlier this month, Admarc told the parliamentary budget cluster committees on Agriculture and Food Security as well as Natural Resources and Climate Change that it needs K300 billion to buy at least 250 000MT of maize.
On the other hand, NFRA recently indicated that it needs K150 billion to buy at least 105 000MT for the national strategic grain reserves.
