MALAWI – Malawi is exploring importing maize from Tanzania to alleviate its ongoing food crisis and control skyrocketing commodity prices, according to the AGRA August 2024 food security report.
Malawi has been grappling with constrained maize supply and inflationary pressure on food prices, particularly maize, which reached K797 per kilogram (US$1.52) in late August, prompting the government to seek relief through imports.
The move to import maize from Tanzania aims to mitigate inflation and ensure food security in Malawi, especially as the country’s reserves dwindle due to constrained local production.
Maize prices have hit record high, exceeding those in neighboring Mozambique, Zambia, and South Africa.
Tanzania, with a surplus of 4 million tonnes of maize this year, has become a key supplier to the region. This surplus is seven times more than Malawi’s projected maize import needs for 2024 and presents an opportunity for the Malawian government to stabilize prices by importing from its northern neighbor.
Tanzania’s role as a major exporter of non-GMO maize, alongside favorable weather conditions, has positioned it as a reliable source of grain for southern Africa since 2023.
In contrast, Malawi’s poor harvest this year, largely due to delayed fertilizer distribution under the Affordable Input Programme and the devastating effects of Cyclone Freddy, has worsened its food security situation.
The cyclone damaged about 440,000 acres of crops, representing 10% of Malawi’s total agricultural land. In contrast, Tanzania’s stable maize production, driven by above-average rainfall, could help Malawi replenish its reserves and address the maize shortage.
In addition, the country is facing food safety concerns after veterinary experts recorded a surge in dog deaths attributed to aflatoxin-contaminated maize husks.
Recently, Timothy Banda, the veterinary clinic manager at the Blantyre Society for the Protection and Care of Animals, reported at least 450 fatalities in Blantyre since April, calling for an urgent public health and food safety concern.
Regionally, other countries are also experiencing various shifts in maize prices. Kenya and Rwanda are seeing price increases, while Ethiopia’s maize price has dropped significantly following the devaluation of its currency.
In southern Africa, while grain prices have started to fall in Zambia and Zimbabwe, they remain elevated across much of the region, exacerbated by macroeconomic challenges and extreme weather events like El Niño and Cyclone Freddy.
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