To recover losses maize deals this financial year, the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) will be paid K10bn by the government, as Admarc acting chief executive officer Felix Jumbe revealed that the sum is aimed at buying 50 000 metric tonnes (MT).

On the other hand, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development spokesperson Priscilla Mateyu confirmed to The Nation newspaper that the fund will be split into two functions—commercial and social.

She said the corporation is currently playing the social function which government undertakes in times of crisis. Earlier in September this year, as Treasury proposed the reactivate the commercial division of Admarc to participate in the purchasing, processing and exporting of agricultural produce and compete with the private sector traders, Felix Jumbe is quoted to have described the State produce trader as dysfunctional.