The National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi (Nasfam) has commended the government for its balanced approach in setting minimum farm-gate prices for strategic crops for the 2023-24 season.
Nasfam has said the prices align with market conditions and meet smallholder farmers’ expectations.
Nasfam Chief Executive Officer Betty Chinyamunyamu said in an interview that the government engaged stakeholders on the prices.
“As a result, the new prices have proven effective, enabling all 52 Nasfam associations across the country to sell their crops at fair market values.
“This has garnered widespread approval from farmers and encouraged private-sector participation by creating more favourable trading conditions,” Chinyamunyamu said.
She added that the successful lobbying of the government to involve Nasfam and other stakeholders in setting farm-gate prices has enabled the ministry to proactively align smallholder farmers’ expectations with market trends at the community, national, regional and global levels.
“This year’s farm gate prices truly align with smallholder farmers’ expectations across Malawi,” she said.
Speaking at Nasfam’s 27th annual general meeting held under the theme Improving Smallholder Farmers’ Market Access Through Value Addition, Minister of Trade and Industry Sosten Gwengwe said it was important to engage the private sector to create a conducive policy environment for agribusinesses.
Gwengwe said such an environment aims to support the production and supply of goods for domestic, regional and export markets.
“By giving farmers a collective voice, organisations like Nasfam ensure that farmers’ concerns and needs are heard and addressed, contributing to a more supportive policy environment for the agricultural sector,” Gwengwe said.
The Ministry of Agriculture engaged stakeholders in determining this year’s minimum farm-gate prices, which smallholder farmers claim will now enjoy favorable trading conditions.
This year’s minimum farm gate prices include maize at K650 per kg rice paddy at K650 per kg, sorghum at K600 per kg, finger millet at K600 per kg, soya beans at K1, 200 per kg, mixed beans at K900 per kg and white haricot beans at K1, 200 per kg.
Others are shelled groundnuts at K1, 200 per kg, unshelled groundnuts at K800 per kg, pigeon peas at K700 per kg, cowpeas at K750 per kg, bambala nuts at K750 per kg, sesame at K1, 300 per kg, sunflower at K650 per kg, paprika at K1,500 per kg, chillies at K2,000 per kg, wet cassava at K450 per kg and cotton at K900 per kg.
