By Wezzie Gausi:
Maize prices have risen sharply since the start of the New Year, reaching an all-time high of K75,000 per 50 kilogramme (kg) bag in Nsanje and parts of Lilongwe City, a snap survey by The Daily Times has revealed.
A maize price monitoring exercise by Times in selected districts across the country shows that the grain is selling at an average price of K65,000 per bag.
The survey also revealed that most households are struggling to purchase a full 50kg bag of maize at once and are opting instead for a five-litre bucket, with prices ranging between K6,500 and K7,500.
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Traders have attributed the surge in the price of the staple grain to a critical shortage, the weakening of the Kwacha and rising operational costs.
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As of noon yesterday in Blantyre, the grain was selling for K65,000 per 50kg bag, similar to the prices in Zomba and Mzuzu.
Elube Phiri, a maize vendor at Mchesi Market in Lilongwe, said the fluctuating value of the Kwacha has significantly impacted their business.
“The prices of everything are increasing daily, making it impossible for us to make any profits. With the current state of the Kwacha, there is no way maize prices can decrease,” Phiri said.
Consumers have expressed frustration over the soaring prices.
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Orbert Ng’oma, a buyer, described the situation as unfair, calling on the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) to intervene and stabilise the market.
“This is the time Admarc could have stepped in to sell maize at affordable prices. Unfortunately, their markets are not operational in most areas,” Ng’oma said.
Admarc Chief Executive Officer, Dan Makata, acknowledged the challenges but assured the public that the corporation is working to address the situation.
“We have opened our markets across the country, especially in rural areas. However, it is true that some markets are yet to open but they will be operational soon,” Makata said.
Admarc is selling maize at K39,500 per 50kg bag, a pointedly lower price than that of private vendors.
However, buyers are restricted to purchasing only 20kg, a limitation that some argue is insufficient to meet household needs.
For many households, the rising cost of maize—an essential component of the local diet—has become a burden that threatens food security.
The government and stakeholders are under growing pressure to find sustainable solutions to address the crisis and stabilise prices.
A poor harvest last year, triggered by an El Niño-induced dry spell, has left about 5.7 million Malawians in desperate need of food.
In November last year, President Lazarus Chakwera declared that Malawi still faced a deficit of K89 billion to meet the K347 billion target needed to feed 5.7 million hungry Malawians until March this year.
