Cluster for release of collateral maize

By Cathy Maulidi:

The Parliamentary Cluster on Agriculture and Natural Resources has ordered Admarc to urgently release to the market the maize which is under collateral.

Cluster co-chairperson Werani Chilenga Wednesday asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Admarc officials to finalise processes faster.

This follows another directive issued last week that the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) should buy the maize which is under K5.1 billion collateral.

During the meeting last week Tuesday, the cluster observed that there is collateral maize in various warehouses across the country but Malawians were unable to access it.

Giving a report on the direction, Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture Rodwell Mzonde said in a letter to the cluster that Admarc has about 4,622 metric tons of the collateral maize in its warehouses and it is ready for sale to NFRA.

And in an interview Wednesday, Admarc acting General Manager Ethel Zilirakhasu confirmed that the maize has been bought by NFRA following the directions.

“What remains is that the banks should give us release orders so that we can collect the maize for distribution and sale in the markets. Payment was done last week; so, we are hopeful of commencing sales immediately after the banks give release orders,” Zilirakhasu said.