Malawi maize reserves depleted pointing too food crisis

Malawi’s grain reserves are running dangerously low with stocks  in the maize silos, the Strategic Grain Reserves (SGR,) stood at a meagre 14000 metric tonnes out of the recommended 217000 metric tonnes needed to feed the nation,  pointing to an imminent food crisis.

National silos depleted
National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) Nasimuko Saukira said traders are not interested to sell maize to the grain reserves due to lower prices.
“Parliament  approved K10 billion for the purchase of maize but we have only used K1 billion because traders are not interested to sell maize to us because of the low prices,” he said.
A member of the Budget and Finance Committee of parliament Cornelius Mwalwanda said this was cause for alarm and asked the government to rectify the situation before people start dying of hunger.

The poor levels of maize stocks in the SGR mean that Government will not be able to control maize prices during lean periods.

The imminent maize shortage and its associated high prices may induce a rise in inflation—measure by the consumer price index (CPI)—of which 50.2 percent is the food basket.

The consequent rising inflation rate may see the Reserve Bank of Malawi maintaining its tight monetary policy, including triggering raising  interest rates.

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Nabetha
Nabetha
4 years ago

Malawi government need to get their act together, this is a regular occurrence so no excuses. Almost every year there is inadequate food at this time of the year hence those in charge of food reserve or food security must plan ahead. Just like in a family the parent takes responsibility of where to get the food for the family unit. For example if it means getting katapila, they go get katapila so please our leaders quit looking for excuses! If you are real leaders, this is the time to show your skill.

Sahara
Sahara
4 years ago

Pointing to or pointing too? The headline doesn’t make sense. There’s a difference between “to” and “too”

Concerned Malawian
Concerned Malawian
4 years ago
Reply to  Sahara

@ Sahara

Inu that is a typo which you can live with. The guy can’t write such an article and fail to draw a distinction in meaning between “to” and “too”. These are two of basic words in english language.

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