A snap survey by Times Business has revealed that maize prices remained high despite the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) entering the market on August 24 2023.
Times Business has found that prices of the commodity are in the range of K40,000 to K47,000 per 50 kilogramme (kg) bag in most districts of the Southern Region.
This means that vendors sell maize at a price which is 33 percent to 56 percent higher than the government’s set K30,000 minimum price per 50kg price.
For example, at Luchenza in Thyolo, vendors are selling the commodity at K47,000 per 50kg. In Zomba the same quantity is fetching K42,000, in Phalombe K41,000 while in Mangochi the price is K40,000 from K45,000 two weeks ago.
However, most of the Admarc depots in the districts were found to have run out of maize stocks.
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Admarc Chief Executive Officer Daniel Makata said the State-run grain trader is restocking the markets.
“We are restocking all markets that had run out this week,” Makata said in a WhatsApp response to our questionnaire.
Agricultural policy expert Leonard Chimwaza said maize supply remains lower than demand.
“Let the government open more maize selling markets so that supply can be improved,” Chimwaza said.
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In a recent interview, government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu said the launch of the mega farms is another important area that will enhance food production and drive down the prices of food.
Reports indicate that, as at Friday last week, Admarc has distributed 3,360 metric tonnes of maize.
