Malawians should brace themselves for more maize shortage next year as government says maize production this growing season is expected to be lower than in the 2014/15 season.
According to the first round of the 2015/16 Agriculture Production Estimates Survey, the country will produce 2,719,425 metric tons of maize, 2 percent lower than the 2014/15 final round estimate of 2,776,277 metric tons.
In a statement, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development said although the estimates may not conclusively inform the final agricultural production, they provide early warning signals on national food security so that stakeholders can make informed decisions regarding impending food situation.
“The results may not conclusively inform the ultimate agricultural production as farmers’ intentions can change in the course of implementing respective farm activities; weather conditions and related parameters may also change in the course of the agricultural season,” reads the statement.
Unlike maize however, production of crops such as soya beans and rice is expected to rise by 1.4 percent and 6.1 percent respectively. Tobacco production is also set to increase to 211,083,000Kgs from 192,967,541Kgs in the 2014/15 agricultural season.
But there will be declines in production for cotton (by 43.2 percent), for groundnuts (by 4.5 percent), for beans (by 5.2 percent) and for pigeon peas (by 3.1 percent).
In terms of livestock, the ministry said the population of cattle has increased from 1,398,376, to 1,440,706 representing 3.1 percent increase as compared to the final round for the 2014/15 agricultural season while national fish production has increased from 120,894 metric tons to 149,299 metric tons representing 23.5 percent increase.
Meanwhile, the ministry said the second round activities for the survey are currently underway throughout the country and results for the second round will be released in March 2016.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development annually conducts Agricultural Production Estimates Survey. The objective of the survey is to assess the country’s agricultural production to inform planning and policy direction for the nation. The survey includes all agricultural commodities, thus, crops, livestock and fisheries. The survey is conducted in three rounds every year.
The second round is conducted from February to March and focuses on verification and adjustment of area measurements for crops grown by the sampled agricultural households, while the third and final round is undertaken during the harvesting period from April to May, involving the weighing of the harvest to obtain actual yield for crops indicating the national food basket and determining the food deficit or surplus.
83 thoughts on “Malawians should expect poor maize production”
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Iwonder with u my fellow Malawians,why are u pointing fingers to our elected leader? We have got the religous leaders, chiefs, councillors, mps,etc in our vges we live lets have some talkings so that we can develop in our area.
Mmm kaya mwe bola ndizingokhala ku zambia konkuno ndizabwela chipuwa chikachokopo pampando
Maize production,cnt grow bcz Dpp government hve no interestng on farming projects.I mean farming materials ar so expensive its difficult for small farmers/the poor to complete farming per season.
Tsono Iwe Admin, Ukuti ‘as Government Says’ Iweyo Sukuona Kuti Njalayo Ikhalako?? Kumagwa Mvula Kwanuko Kapena??? Umadikira Uuzidwe?? Za Ziiiiiiii!!!
Hope the gvt will provide enough maize for it’s citizens,so God help us.
tidyanso bwno
Kutukwanizana or putting the blame on somebody will not solve the problems. Tingopemphera kwa Ambuye kuti atithandize
Chotsani nkhalamba yanuyo pampando chauta akwiya amalawi kubwereza mtundu umodzi pa upulezidenti ngati ndi ufumu wa angoni ku Mzimba chikakhala chitsiru basi chomwecho sorry william Kikikikkiki
So Malawi24 didn’t know?
Blessed is a man who trusteth not in the arm of flesh.If we lay our hope and in leaders,we wont make it in life. NO ONE IS HOPELESS WHOSE HOPE IS IN CHRIST JESUS!
It was already said by TB JOSHUA in his prophency on 4 january 2016
Tisavutike ndikudalira munthu coz zonse amapereka ndi mulungu kuzera mwa mwana wake yesu khristu. Ndipo or zitavuta maka mulungu azaika poti ife ana ake tipulumukire popeza anati tikapempha azatipasa, komanso mu zoonse tiyeni tiyamike mulungu, palibe comulaka iye
Hyoo so bad
Aaaa ma comment enawa Ali shit kwambiri kodi za chipani cha DPP zikugwilizana bwanji ndi za chimanga amalawi anzanga umbuli ukutuphweteka sure kukanika kusiyanitsa chakudya ndi chipani kkkkkkk tiyeni tibwelelenso Ku school ndithu heheee!!!
thats obvious!! mpaka boma la DPP lidzachoke m’boma
Beat the drums and chant, let your tears run like the blood of ancestors…
masiku otsiliza kudzakhala njala bible linatero,owelenga khala maso,tikufuna tidzingova zizindikiro m’mayiko ena basi? olo pabwere president wina nothng wil change,a malawi amzanga tilimbike kupephera basi osati kulodzana dzala
Some morons still blame president for shortage of rain in southern africa countries. Peter uli ndi ntchto coz u r leading millions of zitsiru.
Rubish.
U r stupid! Its because of poor policies he is putting in place,he shd set aside good mechanism to curb this food shortage other than waiting for it to strike as if he ws not warned about the same…….stupid dude!
Whch things he must set asite ma donors anasiya kuthandiza,you bettr workhard urself to put those ideas in ur family.
El Nino eeeish itidyetsa udzu ndithu. Koma ena akulimbana kukokana malaya.
Guys this is a hard time.I just dont get it,that some one is still defending this poor perfomance goverment.last yr the same goverment promised to buy enough maize so the pple can have food.today there is no maize at any admarc depo.this is the time when the good gov this of its pple. Early reports are showing that next yr will be waise but u will see that there will be nothing to be done in order to get things under control..bola Che Bakili abwelereso pamupando azitigayira napwiri ndi yellow maize ngakhale azikapemphesa kunja.alipoyi zamulaka.