BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) has announced the immediate suspension of all its operations nationwide due to a severe lack of funding.
In a public statement released today, ADMARC reveals it has not received any operational funding from the government for the past three months.
The cooperation says this financial dry spell has left it unable to carry out its core functions, and has also resulted in employees going unpaid throughout the same period.
“This decision has not been made lightly.It is necessary to safeguard the dignity and welfare of our workforce, and to avoid exposing staff to unproductive and demoralizing working conditions.
“As a result, all our employees across the country have been advised to stop reporting for work until further notice,” reads the statement.
The ADMARC has also disclosed that it currently holds no maize stocks and has not procured any agri-food commodities to date.
This means the corporation is not in a position to sell or distribute any agricultural produce at the moment, a concerning development for a country where many rely on the institution for staple food access.
Despite the grim outlook, the corporation has expressed hope that the government and relevant stakeholders will act quickly to resolve the funding crisis and restore the institution to full operational capacity.
“We urge the public to remain calm and await further communication from the authorities,” the statement concludes.
ADMARC plays a critical role in Malawi’s food security, especially in rural areas.