By Wezzie Gausi:
The National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) has stated it urgently wants K78 billion funding to obtain an extra 120,000 metric tonnes (mt) of maize earlier than the following harvest.
According to NFRA, this procurement is significant for sustaining meals stability, particularly as rural areas proceed to face untold meals shortages due to poor harvest as a result of El-Nino-induced climate circumstances.
In an interview, NFRA Chief Executive Officer George Macheka stated additional maize would help in price stabilisation during the lean period, which might be made accessible on the market in Admarc markets all through the nation.
He stated the Department of Disaster Management Affairs has already begun drawing maize from the requested 47,000 mt of maize to be distributed to Malawians in want between now and December 31 2024.
“As part of the government’s proactive approach, it is worth noting that these drawdowns are taking place before the onset of the lean period from January to April. This prudent measure reflects the strategic management of existing resources to mitigate the effects of hunger and ensure that people in the country do not die because of hunger.
“Recent assessments indicate that unpredictable weather patterns are increasingly impacting agricultural yields, making buffer stocks essential to safeguard against potential food shortages. The agency is, therefore, still buying maize using the available resources and is appealing for more resources to meet the set target,”Macheka stated.
Commenting on the request, Secretary to the Treasury Betchani Tchereni stated the federal government was conscious of the dire want of sources at NFRA.
He stated they’d been in talks with NFRA and so they may affirm that sources for the acquisition of maize had been recognized by improvement companions.
“We will be firming up very soon so that the agency together with Admarc are all able to stock up. All we are waiting for are the actual disbursements because the negotiations are done already,” Tchereni stated.
Meanwhile, NFRA has launched a cellular markets initiative designed to facilitate direct purchases of maize from farmers in rural areas.
