BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale on Monday, November 21, 2022 disclosed in parliament that government is set to open Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) markets by December 1, 2022.
Kawele said the move is to enable people buy maize from the state produce trader and control the price of the Malawi’s staple food.
He said, the Grain Trader was never closed but the employees were only sent on leave so as to restructure the state produce trader.
“All districts across the country will be prioritized,” said Kawale.
The minister added that government has put in place measures to ensure that people access maize and that vendors do not abuse the system.
He pointed out that restructuring Admarc also means removing bad apples in the system.
Kawale concluded that the institution needs people who can help the institution to serve Malawians better.
Admarc is one of the Malawi’s parastatals that have been struggling financially and has over the years failed to serve Malawians as per its mandate as produce stabiliser and ready market for farmers.
The state produce trader has also failed to perfom its social function of as government’s food security apparatus.
According to the 2021 Malawi Government Annual Economic Report, as at half year of the 2021/22 financial year, Admarc recorded a net loss-after-tax of MK3.7 billion.
The report further states that Admarc, barely a going concern, has been surviving through over drafts and loans which has been a setback to its growth.
In May this year, Admarc board of directors also suspended its general manager Rhyno Chiphiko for buying a luxurious vehicle at a time the company is struggling financially.
Currently, vendors have taken advantage of Admarc closure to reap Malawians with high maize prices which is pegged at MK25, 000,00 per Kilogram from MK15,000.00
