Banning maize exports causes food crisis – World Bank

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Richard Record
Richard Record
Record; The ban is a set back.

The World Bank says Malawi government’s ban on maize exports caused the country’s current food crisis.

The country implemented a ban on exporting maize since government is subsidizing the production of maize through the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP).

However, the ban on maize exports has discouraged investment in more productive commercial farming methods, stopping farmers from producing more maize which they can sell outside the country.

“Our concern with the export ban is that it limits the scope to expand production among more medium and large-scale farms if they are unable to market the surplus,” said Richard Record, World Bank Senior Country Economist, World Bank in Malawi.