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Govt confirms maize deficit

Malawi will register a drop in maize production this year from 3.9 million metric tonnes to 2.8 million metric tonnes due to floods and prolonged dry spells the country experienced in the course of the season, according to official statistics.

The difference translates to about 123 000 metric tonnes, representing a 27.7 percent decline in production.

Food security situation worse than last year
Food security situation worse than last year

Earlier, Civil Society Agriculture Network (CisaNet) executive director Tamani Nkhono-Mvula said his organisation’s assessment showed harvest would drop by between 30 and 40 percent.

Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Allan Chiyembekeza, announcing the crop estimates during a news conference in Lilongwe yesterday, said there is approximately 46 000 metric tonnes in the strategic grain reserves (SGR) and that State produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) currently has no maize in stock as it is also drawing from the same reserves.

Said the minister: “Let it be known that in view of this, the country is going to have a maize production deficit and as such government will prioritise local buying from our traders who currently have about 76 000 metric tonnes.”

Chiyembekeza said there has also been a drop in production for other major foods such as rice, millet cassava and sorghum. Cash crops such as cotton and groundnuts have also registered a sharp decrease.

However, Irish potatoes and pulses have registered an increase.

Said Chiyembekeza: “You will also agree with me that as a country, we also eat other foods as well. My ministry is formulating the food balance sheet which takes into account these other food crops such as rice, sorghum and millet so as to provide a picture of whether in the final analysis we have a food deficit or  not.”

In an interview yesterday, Nkhono-Mvula expressed shock at the 27.7 percent drop considering the current status on the ground.

He wondered why Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development  Goodal Gondwe said he would allocate K8.5 billion for food imports, saying at such a percentage the country would still have enough for everyone, thus within its national food requirement.

Said Nkhono-Mvula: “We need to face reality, and the writing is on the wall that things are not good. However, as Cisanet we respect the position taken by government. To us the most important thing is not to argue about the figures, but to make sure that no Malawian dies of hunger. Government should, therefore, assure us that if planning for food response at that percentage the country will be fine, however we stand by our prediction.”

In the 2013/14 season, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development pegged the country’s national food requirement at 2.5 million metric tonnes of maize.

Food security in Malawi is generally equated with adequate production of maize which, according to the International Food Policy Institute, accounts for more than 60 percent of the country’s total food production.

Besides, food, dominated by maize, makes up about 58 percent of the consumer price index; hence, the staple grain’s shortage would likely worry monetary authorities as low supply could sharply push prices up, leading to high headline inflation rate currently on the downward spiral. n

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One Comment

  1. Malawi only needs 1.5 million mt of Grain for nutrition (that means grain – maize, millet, rice, sorghum, wheat). the other foods should be:
    1.5 million mt should be roots and tubers.
    1.8 million mt of veg.
    1.8 million mt of fruits.
    600 thousand mt of legumes and nuts.
    600 thousand mt of animal foods.

    120 thousand mt of fats (avocado, coconut, oilseeds)

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