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Admarc seeks Parliament help in maize distribution struggle

Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) has asked Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture to help break some communities’ resistance against maize redistribution.

The appeal comes as Admarc is failing to transfer maize from some Central and Northern regions storage facilities because some surrounding communities claim they own the staple and therefore, it should not be transferred to other areas.

The committee’s members and Admarc officials inspect maize at Ntchisi storage facility

Speaking when the committee toured Ntchisi Admarc Depot yesterday, the parastatal’s chief executive officer Felix Jumbe said the resistance has led to some areas suffering maize supply shortages.

He revealed that 4 000 metric tonnes is stuck in Ntchisi, Dowa, Kasungu and Lilongwe, while Chitipa is the main hub of resistance in the North.

Said Jumbe: “A few days ago, we tried to ferry maize from Ntchisi  to some parts that are in dire need of it. However,  some people blocked the road and we failed to deliver it.

“This is why we want the parliamentary committee to intervene so that we easily sweep all the maize and take it to those that desparately need it.”

The committee’s chairperson Sameer Suleman described the situation as shocking and promised to treat the matter with urgency.

“It is unfair that some people don’t have maize while it is stocked somewhere within the country. We will strategise with my committee and find a solution,” he said.

Suleman faulted Admarc for not alerting his committee on the issue earlier, saying the matter required the committee’s attention at an early stage.

“You should have alerted us when the problems had just started. We need to work together and the media to sensitise the defiant communities  on the need to serve lives through smooth maize redistribution,”  Suleman said.

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