Poverty ripping off Malawi farmers

May 15, 2017 Politics 34
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Malawi Market

Poverty has left farmers with no option and selling crops at a low price is the only way they can get some money to buy basic needs.

With reports of bumper yields that Malawi has for this farming year, vendors are now setting prices that are very low to farmers who take crops like maize as the sole saver from chains of poverty.

Reports reveal that in some parts of the country like Namandanje in Machinga district, a 50 kilogram bag of maize is being sold at K2000 while in some areas the price is at K2500.

Maize flour
Maize selling very low.

The development comes from a background of hunger last year when poor farmers were reported to be starving with no food to eat.

The price from the very same vendors that have created a fisherman and fish relation was unbearable to the rural citizenry.

Though people applauded vendors for selling the staple grains at a lower price than the grain marketer Admarc, still the K10,000 price for a bag of maize was a hustle to many in the rural set up of Malawi.

The production cost of these crops is high with a bag of fertilizer being traded at over K20,000 raising a question if these poor farmers are to meet the cost they used with these prices on the market.

Commenting on the matter, an economic expert Joshua Mbewe has called on government to intervene for the farmers to make profits.

“The bumper yields have pushed the prices of maize down to K60/kg, the prices are offered by the private traders. This is a violation because with the current maize prices farmers will not be able to recover what they spent on production.

“However government announced that the price of maize is K170/kg but private traders are buying at K60/kg in the name of liberalized economy.

“Government should come in as soon as possible to start buying maize at the set price to protect the farmers. If government open markets in all corners of the country and starts buying the staple grain at the government set price, prices will automatically be adjusted upwards because there will competition to buy maize which is our staple food,” said Mbewe in an interview with Malawi24.

Joshua Mbewe
Mbewe : Govt has to intervene.

However, it is doubtful if government through Admarc is to buy maize from farmers as it has failed to sell the current stock due to the high price of K12500 per bag.

Though on positive note, the low prices of maize is pushing the inflation down and the consumers are winners as this has positively affected their disposable income.

But farmers are on the losing side and come some months ahead they are the same vendors who are to whip these farmers with high prices on the same grains being sold today.

With many yet to adopt modern farming technologies, farmers in Malawi have to go manual in producing crops but all that is being taken for granted with low prices that vendors set.

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34 Comments

  4. When U go to Kanengo to sell your crops you forget that they is poverty, instead of taking back those money to the village for the better plans then U start enjoying in the City of Lilongwe, you spend it with prostitutes @ Bwandilo in Area 47, in Chingwiri, and even @ Mbowe with children who come from the rich families, when you are empty then you go back to the village and started complaining to the government. Come to the City of Lilongwe during season and see how farmers from Mchinji, Dowa, Kasungu, Ntchisi etc how they spend money with prostitutes, amapenga hvy ndindalama za ulima!

  6. Govt should look at the price of fertilizer first…..if they give any reason there I will sell my maize to Tanzania……..o they lower input price that all

  11. the malawi govt would buy de surplus fro farmers n export at a profit. koma popeza de govt too doznt protect farmers ndiye tizionadi

    1. indeed ofcourse my brother dont doubt about that here at chimbiya that is dedza we sell maize at 45 per kg, zovetsa chisoni kwambiri.

  22. Going Down Price Of Maiz Its Not Wrong Becoz This Can Help Ppl To Keep Their Food For Feuture Use Koma Soya Ndi Mbewu Zina Zomwe Ndi Ma Cash Crop Ndiye Zikulakwika Kwambili Kutsika Kwa Mitengo Yakeyo

    3. Ppl Will Keep Their Maiz With The Aim Of Seling It When Price Going Up Mmenemo Zizakhala Kut Chakudya Chikufunika Kwambiri Then Sombody Can’t Sell Something Wille It Is So Needed To Use It In Gud Maner

    4. Zokuti anthu ane amalima chimanga cha business simukudziwa??????? Just imagine muli inuyo mwalowesa capital yochuluka nde wina azikugulani pa mteng otsika mungakondwele???? Nde mmene amadulira fertilizer

    5. U r wrong bro. Ur assumption is alimi onse omwe akugulisa mbeu zawo pano akulakwisa ndipo sakuziwa zomwe akuchita. What u r forgeting is that farming is bussiness in which u can invest all u had hoping that after certain period u will get ur money back and use it to move on with life. Not all farmers have alot of money that they can keep their harvest until December. And not all farmers produce only for food

    6. Akulu Akulu Simukumvetsa, Kod Or Amene Amalima Ndi Aim Ya Bussineswo Atati Asunge Azagulitse Njala Itavuta Kod Boma Lizavutika Kulowesa Ndalama Zambili Kukagula Chakudya Kunja Nanga Taganizan Boma Limalowesa Ndalama Zingat Pokagula Chakudya Kunja, Komanso Kut Muganize Bwinobwino Bomalo Kapena Mavendawo Akugula Ndi Mitengo Yosika Ndi Ganizo Lot Zinthu Sizinavute Zitati Zavuta Mukuganiza Kut Boma Lingagule Ndi Mitengo Yake Imeneyi Mesa Izigula Ndi Mitengo Yabwino Polingalila Kut Zavuta Tipulumutse Wanthu Guyz Kumaganiza Ndimazisaukisa Chifukwa Cha Phuma Komanso Kusakhwima Nzelu

    7. Nkhani ndiyoti posatengera nthawi yogulila pakuyenera pakhale dongosolo loti zizigulidwa at a reasonable price. Ngati munthu akuononga K5000 to produce a bag of maize, sizowona kut aziligulisa mtengo wochepera K5000 ngakhale itakhala nthawi yokolola. If thats the case then something is wrong and thats where government intervention is needed. Think pliz…

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