BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The price of maize has seen it being lower than the price of the commodity in the previous month of January and April.
It is now lower by 2 percent than the price of K1,300 per kg in January last year.
The report further notes that the grain price continues to trend lower in the Southern Region and lowest in the Central Region.
In central region 50kg bag of maize is fetching between MK45,000 and MK55,000.
In the south, maize prices averaged K1,600 per kg compared to K2,000 per kg in the north and central regions.
Prices of maize are expected to dip further in the coming months following the influx of the grain on the market from traders and food assistance interventions, which will depress prices further, the report indicates.
Food systems commentator Keness Ganga says the price drop is an indication of quantity bonanza in supplies of maize to the market.
He said this could have a negative effect on new harvests in the next season as maize farmers would no longer be interested in maize production.
Recently, Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamvekha and the central administration are set to release K20,000 per 50kg bag after this year’s harvest.
“What the government needs to do is to ensure that farm inputs such as seed and fertiliser are made cheaper, otherwise, many farmers would be discouraged to grow maize,” he said.