Maize prices up by 127% as ADMARC depots opens Monday

Malawians should expect both good and bad moments come Monday 24 October 2016 following the directive by President Arthur Peter Mutharika that Admarc markets across the country be opened.

The good news is obviously that Malawians will find it easy interms of distance to access the staple food as about 1,200 Admarc selling points are expected to be opened but the bad part is that the maize price has been hiked.

A 50 kilogram bag which was last year during the same period sold at K5,500 will be selling at K12,500 representing about a 127% increase.

This means that a single kilogram is going at K250.00.

Commenting on the current food situation after returning from United States of America (USA) where he went to attend a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) congress, President Mutharika assured Malawians that everything is under control and that there is enough
maize in stock and that the government is yet to purchase more.

“I wish to assure all Malawians that that we have enough food both for humanitarian and commercial purposes,” said Mutharika.

Mutharika said the Food Insecurity Plan launched three months ago aiming at curbing hunger is on course.

He said according to the current situation, Malawi not only need Maize but also Super Cereals, Pulses and Oils among others to be provided to
over 6.5 million starving Malawians.

The Malawi leader said his government is assured of 274,106 Metric Tonnes (MT) of cereals against estimated 262,500 MT.

He revealed that there are over 90,000 MT of maize at National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA).

The government is receiving support from various international humanitarian bodies including United Satates Agency for International
Development (USAID), World Bank through the World Food Programme (WFP).

Meanwhile, About 100,000 tonnes of maize are already in stock at various Admarc selling points ready for sale out of the required
400,000 metric tonnes.

The government is yet to purchase the remaining 300,000 tones from Zambia, Brazil, and Romania and the negotiations already took place.