Low turnout at Admarc depots amid concerns over price

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ADMARC

Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation Malawi (Admarc) has admitted that there has been low demand for its maize over the past week.

Chief Executive Officer for Admarc Foster Mulumbe said few people have bought maize from its selling points since the corporation opened the depots a week ago.

This comes amid concerns over the price of maize per kilogram which, at K250, has been described by some quarters as prohibitive.

ADMARC
Malawians not going to Admarcs

But Mulumbe said despite the outcry over prices and the low turnout, the selling of maize is going on very well.

”We are happy that the process has started well though some quarters say the price is high but we say all is well,” said Mulumbe.

He claimed that low demand during the first week was expected and he expressed hope that more people will buy maize in the coming weeks

Mulumbe said the low turnout is also because vendors are now scared to buy maize from Admarc and only targeted people are buying the maize.

He added that the corporation is expecting more sales in the southern region because it is where many Malawians have been affected by food shortage.

Admarc is selling the maize at K250 per Kg price following a directive from President Peter Mutharika that the corporation should sell the grain at the same price it was buying and not K312 per Kg as initially planned.

Mutharika made the directive to ensure that many Malawians are be able to buy the maize. But the move has come at a cost to taxpayers as government is giving Admarc K62 per Kg so that the corporation should not make a loss.

Nonetheless, opposition politicians have called on the corporation to lower the price saying many Malawians cannot afford to buy maize at the current price.