Prices of maize have hit K100 000 per 50 kilogramme (kg) bag in some markets and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has since decried the continued increase in prices, the steepest month-on-month gains in a decade.
In a Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin for January 2025 released on Friday, FAO said on average, the prices rose by 29 percent to reach a record high of K1 243 per kg in January, adding that at this level, prices were 38 percent higher during the same period last year.
FAO said the elevated price is primarily driven by domestic supply pressure stemming from a reduced 2024 national harvest and a weak currency, which has increased import costs of key inputs in agri-food chains.
Reads the report: “The average price of maize grain, the primary food staple, posted one of the steepest month on month gains in January 2025, rising by 29 percent to reach a record high of K1 243/kg. At this level, prices were 38 percent higher year on year.
“The elevated price is primarily driven by domestic supply pressure stemming from a reduced national 2024 harvest and a weak currency, which has increased import costs of key inputs in agri-food chains.”
The United Nations agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security further noted that these high prices, set against declining per capita income, are constraining households’ access to food and are a significant contributor to the high levels of acute food insecurity.
The Nation spot-checks conducted yesterday in some markets nationwide showed that maize prices were still rising with some vendors selling the grain at K1 800 per kg which is above the official selling price of K790 per kg or K39 500 for a 50kg bag in Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) outlets.
The checks established that a 50kg bag of maize is selling at K75 000 in Karonga and at K85 000 in Nkhata Bay and Salima while in Lilongwe the price is ranging from K85 000 to K90 000.
On the other hand, in Nchalo, Chikwawa and Bangula in Nsanje, consumers are buying maize at K1 800 per kg while in Liwonde, Machinga and Manase in Blantyre, a five-litre bucket is at selling K10 000, translating to K100 000 per 50kg bag.
In an interview yesterday, Grain Traders Association of Malawi president Grace Mijiga Mhango said private traders are importing maize from either Mozambique or Tanzania which means the price of maize is being affected by the scarcity of foreign exchange and high cost of transportation
She said: “Our experience in the past few years is that during lean periods, Admarc has maize to help to stabilise prices but in the absence of this maize, the rule of demand and supply creeps in.”
Nchalo-based Isaac Chapalapata, a 33-year-old father of five, in an interview yesterday said he was struggling to feed his family because the maize price is beyond his reach.
Centre for Social Concern economic governance programmes officer Agness Nyirongo said higher food prices can lead to reduced purchasing power and force families to cut back on food quantity or quality.
She said government should facilitate the importation of essential food items by reducing tariffs or providing incentives, which can help stabilize prices by increasing supply.
“Improving logistics and transportation infrastructure is also vital to reduce delays and costs in food distribution, thereby making food more accessible and affordable,” said Nyirongo.
She also urged consumers to adjust household budgets and explore ways to manage expenses in response to rising costs.
Meanwhile, Consumers Association of Malawi executive director John Kapito has called on the government to open Admarc markets and supply them with maize to control the prices.
“If there is any money available anywhere, this is the time for the government to use those funds to provide maize so that prices should come down,” he said.
Earlier, Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale said they will continue to issue import permits to everyone willing to import maize, with the aim of flooding markets, which will see prices stabilising or even going down.
Admarc spokesperson Theresa Chapulapula said recently that they received 10 000MT out of the 36 000MT they purchased from farmers, which the State produce trader is currently selling.
The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee Report indicated that the number of people in need of food aid will increase from 4.2 million to 5.7 million during the lean period from October last year.
