The International Food Policy Research Institute (Ifpri) has outlined that for Malawi to stabilise either retail or farmgate maize prices, the government should move in ridding price volatility and operational challenges and high budgetary costs, as the efforts would cost around K100 billion annually, according to the Ifpri report titled  ‘Can a Maize Price Band Work in Malawi?,’

The above follows a report by Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FewsNet) which said that though maize is abundantly and affordably available, Fewsnet sees the prices rising in the remainder of the 2020/21 marketing year. According to the report, the price rise will be attributed to an informal flow of maize from neighboring countries, as well as a net surplus of about 500 000 metric tonnes (MT). The report reads, “ “Malawi’s above average domestic supplies, regional imports and the ongoing formal maize export ban are expected to result in very well supplied domestic markets this marketing year.”

Meanwhile, as Malawi makes various attempts to stabilise the maize prices, farmers are exploited by unscrupulous vendors, while the state buyer Admarc is yet to sort its mess. The Admarc chief executive officer Felix Jumbe said the parastatal needs K300 billion to recapitalise to keep up with its strategic business plan to become a major off-taker of all farm produce in the country.