Mystery surrounds the importation of 200 000 metric tonnes (MT) of maize to fill the food deficit amid lack of clarity on funding from both Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) and the government.
On September 2 2025, Admarc announced plans to import 200 000MT of maize to ensure availability of the staple grain during the lean season, which runs from October to March. By importing the maize, Admarc would be addressing food inflation and ensure that no one goes hungry.
locally. | Nation
In March this year, before passing of the 2025-26 National Budget in Parliament, Admarc said it needed about K300 billion to buy at least 250 000MT of maize from farmers to effectively implement the maize price stabilisation function.
On whether the State produce trader has started importing the maize, Admarc spokesperson Teresa Chapulapula simply said: “We are working with the government on the procurement of 200 000MT. The maize will be imported from Zambia and Tanzania.”
However, she was able to give an update on the maize being purchased locally using the resources allocated in the national budget. She said so far, Admarc has procured about 19 000MT tonnes of maize.
In a separate interview, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs spokesperson Williams Banda said Ministry of Agriculture was better placed to comment on the said 200 000MT importation.
However, Ministry of Agriculture Principal Secretary Dickxie Kampani said the responses Admarc provided covered what the Ministry could have provided. He said he was banking on Admarc for the responses.
“I have been informed that you already contacted the institution involved and they gave you the responses,” he said.
When told that Admarc did not provide details as to how much it will cost to procure the maize, source of funding, the time maize will start arriving in the country and other crucial details, Kampani said Admarc sometimes deals with Treasury, hence Treasury can provide information about the resources.
Malawi has a deficit of about 700 000MT of maize.
Efforts by government to cover the gap through irrigation farming seem to have fallen short.
The strategy by Ministry of Agriculture shows that for maize production under irrigation farming, the target was to cover 61 325 hectares which would produce 306 625MT of maize.
However, progress report on irrigation under smallholder farming shows that as of August 31 2025 that only 27 197ha was under smallholder irrigated crop production.
The August update shows that rice covered 8 798ha, beans 8 528 hectares, potatoes covered 4 604ha while other crops covered 6 827ha. The total area under irrigation was 55 954ha against a targeted areas of 66 162ha (for all crops under the small holder irrigated crop production).
Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency executive director Willy Kambwandira said it is now clear that Admarc lied to Malawians, adding that the blame game being played will not help address the hunger crisis in the country.
In the 2025/26 National Budget, government allocated K60 billion for maize purchases to be handled by National Food Reserve Agency and Admarc. Admarc was to use K20 billion for the exercise.
Government also allocated K53 billion to Admarc to revamp its operations.
