Private traders have taken advantage of the looming hunger to raise maize prices to K160 per kilogramme, which is 100 percent above Admarc’s selling price of K80, The Daily Times has established.
The raise in the maize prices comes at a time when the country has reported a food deficit of about 30 percent in the 2014/2015 growing season due to floods and dry spells in most parts of the country.
Spot-checks The Daily Times conducted in Mangochi, Salima, Nkhotakota and Balaka revealed that private traders raised prices for the commodity with an average of K40 per kilogramme between May and June, representing an average 30 percent increase.
Meanwhile, the soaring prices have not pleased most consumers who feel they are being punished because of the inavailability of maize in government-owned Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) outlets.
“We don’t know what will happen to us by the time we reach the lean months of December and January because if maize prices are increasing this time when people are harvesting, it means there is a big problem ahead of us,” said Doreen Banda Moffat of Mtakataka Turn-off in Mangochi.
Commenting on the issue, Traditional Authority Nankumba said he has directed his subjects to stop selling maize to private traders who will in turn sell them the same maize at a higher price when the commodity becomes scarce.
“I have told those who have surplus maize to sell to Admarc or keep it because I don’t want to see people who have maize now being exploited by private traders later,” he said.
Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) Executive Director, John Kapito, said the problem with maize prices is being fueled by Admarc’s failure to stock their markets and sell to people all year round.
“We have always said that Admarc needs to wake up or be completely overhauled so that it starts competing with private traders to avoid the current scenario,” he said.
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