NFRA moves to improve grain stock management

National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) has pledged to improve the overall management of stocks in its silos and reserves through provision of credible data on stock levels.

The company’s chief executive officer George Macheka made the pledge on Saturday during a two-day staff conference in Salima aimed at empowering them with information and communications technology skills in store management systems.

He said the training was part of NFRA’s recent automation efforts to help produce timely and credible data, which will also increase stakeholder confidence.

Said Macheka: “We hope that this training will enhance availability of credible data, which we use and which we provide to our key stakeholders such as government and development partners; hence, build trust.

“Further, it is expected to improve operational efficiency. With automation, it will accord management easy access to information which will promote real time reporting. It will also help to improve monitoring and evaluation.”

Macheka then called on participants to be truthful in their dealings, saying honesty and transparency will build trust among team members and partners, leading to stronger relationships and better outcomes.

“Our focus is on service to the nation and the community, not personal benefits. We are here to make a difference, to contribute to the development of our country and to ensure that nobody dies of hunger in Malawi and we want to do that by harnessing our operational efficiency through the use of ICT.

“As we move forward, let us keep this noble purpose in mind and strive to make a positive impact by ensuring that Malawi is food secure through our work,” he said.

The training came just days after NFRA launched its 2023-2030 Strategic Plan in Lilongwe where Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale urged the institution to work with farmers to ensure that the country has quality produce and avoid grain rotting in the silos.

Grain rotting in storage has been an annual challenge, with 2016 being the worst when a donors’ assessment revealed that almost 4 821 metric tonnes (MT) was not in good condition, 2 910MT was characterised as dust and chaff while 419MT had high aflatoxin levels.

The donors also found that almost 1 500 MT of maize was no longer of use as it had been in the silos for too long.

NFRA board chairperson Dennis Kalekeni said the new strategic plan is well-drafted, among others, to prevent reserved food rotting while in storage.

“As you heard from the minister, we will be working with all stakeholders to ensure that we have quality food in our reserves,” he said.

This year, NFRA plans to buy maize and fill up its 300 000 metric tonnes strategic grain reserves across the country.