A study by welfare monitoring body, the Centre for Social Concern (CfSC), has shown that maize producers is currently posting low profits. CfSC Economic Governance Program Officer, Lucky Mfungwe, has justified the study’s findings to lack of enforcement of farm gate prices after harvest coupled with delays by (Admarc) to start buying maize left growers in an awkward situation.

The study has followed an increase in maize prices, against low prices that traders are offering farmers, while in wait of the Admarc market to open. Meanwhile the study has urged that proper legal framework be put in place to enforce the set minimum prices.

“Authorities should strengthen the campaign to sensitise farmers to aggregate their produce and sell to organised markets like Agriculture Commodities Exchange and AHL Commodities Exchange.” said the report.

Regardless, farmers have been urged to diversify their crops, since the cash crops have not been performing as well as expected, as global prices have been dwindling while global markets have either faced oversupply or demanded lower due to one factor or another.