By Brenda Kayo:
Concerns over Malawi’s food security are shifting towards the next harvest as possible El Niño conditions threaten maize production and fuel shortages disrupt grain distribution.
Agriculture policy expert Leonard Chimwaza said Malawi needs to strengthen alternative food production strategies, particularly irrigation, to reduce the impact of unreliable rainfall and drought.
“Malawi needs to act fast and find other alternatives such as irrigation that can help during the El Niño season,” he said.
Some maize traders at Nsanje Boma Market said the ongoing fuel shortage is making it difficult to transport the commodity from the Central Region, where they source their supplies.
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They warned that prolonged fuel shortages could further disrupt maize distribution and push up costs for consumers.
The concerns come amid already high maize prices in several parts of the country.
A Daily Times spot check yesterday found that a 50-kilogramme bag of maize was selling for about K50,000 in Lilongwe, between K40,000 and K50,000 in Mzuzu, between K45,000 and K50,000 in Dowa, K55,000 in Salima and K60,000 in Nsanje.
Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation spokesperson Theresa Chapulapula said the Ministry of Agriculture would be better placed to provide information on the country’s current maize stocks.
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The National Food Reserve Agency and Ministry of Agriculture had not responded to questions sent by The Daily Times.
