The National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) has increased its maize buying price from K55,000 to K64,000 per 50kg bag, equivalent to K1,280 per kilogram.
According to NFRA Chief Executive Officer George Macheka, the price adjustment aims to encourage maize sellers to supply their commodity to NFRA, thereby enhancing food security and sustainable food supply in the country.
Macheka highlighted that NFRA will be buying at 1,280 kwacha per kilogram from general farmers, and large-scale farmers will receive K1,300 per kilogram, and that payment will be made within 48 hours.
Macheka also said NFRA has imported maize from Tanzania at a landed cost of K943 per kilogram to bridge a deficit of 600,000 metric tons of Maize, as only 2.9 million metric tons were realised from the 2024/2025 farming season.
NFRA aggregated 37,578.70 metric tons of maize and released 8,978 metric tons to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) for emergency response.
The Egency has also supplied 1,376 metric tons of Maize to ADMARC for price stabilisation.
The move comes as Malawians face challenges in accessing affordable maize, with some markets selling a 50kg bag for up to K70,000.
