Fluctuating crop prices anger Mitundu farmers

Farmers at Mitundu in Lilongwe have complained against continued lowering of prices of various crops at the market.

The farmers expressed their disappointment on Friday when Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) inspected their gardens where they had planted various crops such as beans, pigeon peas and potatoes with the help of seeds from the organisation.

Medson Kapingasa from Njuchi Village said many of his fellow farmers in the area have complained of poor prices for maize, groundnuts and soya.

“Just in March and April groundnuts was selling at around K400 [per kg] but now it is at K220,” he said.

This, he said, has led to farmers to withhold some of their harvests.

Another farmer, Maliseni Nepiyala, also said the market prices are disappointingly lower.

FUM nutrition specialist Modesta Mlia-Tembo urged the farmers to plant crops that are fetching better prices. For example, beans, potatoes and pigeon peas are fetching better prices on the market.

Agriculture extension development coordinator Kansichi Mbewe confirmed the poor prices and cited the export ban as the cause.