Chiefs asked to protect farmers

Ntchisi District agriculture extension methodologist officer Masautso Bamusi has asked chiefs in the district to protect smallholder farmers from vendors who offer low prices for their farm produce.

In an interview, he said chiefs should ensure that their subjects sell their farm produce to those buying the commodity at a price set by government.

Said Bamusi: “Some of these vendors want to reap where they did not sow.

“The vendors buy the farm produce at low prices, but chiefs do not do anything.”

Group village head Kadango said he will protect his subjects from the vendors.

“We will ensure the vendors buy the farm produce at recommended prices,” he said.

Spot-checks by Malawi News Agency in some trading centres and villages has established that vendors are buying maize at K140 per kilogramme (kg) against government’s recommended price of K150 per kg.