The Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Simplex Chithyola Banda, has warned that Malawi risks serious economic consequences if government delays announcing farm gate prices, as vendors continue exploiting farmers.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Chithyola Banda said the absence of official prices has created a vacuum that is being abused, with some vendors reportedly buying produce for as low as K25,000.
He stressed that farm gate prices are essential in protecting farmers, as they provide a minimum benchmark that buyers must follow across agricultural markets.
Without these safeguards, he cautioned, farmers are left vulnerable to unfair trading practices that threaten their livelihoods and the stability of the sector.
“If we cannot have these farm gate prices now as a nation, then we are doomed,” he said, calling for immediate government action.
Minister of Agriculture Roza Mbilizi responded by assuring Parliament that the government is expected to release the farm gate prices by Friday this week.
The minister added that the pricing system will cover multiple crops and is being developed through consultations with key stakeholders, including farmers and experts, to ensure fairness and reflect production costs.
