MALAWI – The Malawian government’s ambitious plan to address a 600,000-metric ton (MT) maize deficit through winter and irrigation farming is facing severe challenges.
This follows the Ministry of Agriculture’s three-pronged approach, which required a budget of K270 billion (US$252 million) failing to produce the targeted maize off-season through winter cropping and irrigation.
The strategy was intended to produce 615,000 MT of maize through smallholder farming, existing agriculture schemes, and new irrigation infrastructure.
However, the success of this plan hinges on the availability of residual soil moisture, which is now critically lacking. Moreover, the flooding of Shire Valley wetlands has rendered vast areas unsuitable for maize cultivation.
Efforts to utilize existing irrigation schemes have also been hampered by funding shortfalls. The Greenbelt Authority, a key player in the strategy, has received only about US$1.6 million (K1.7 billion) of the US$17 million (K18 billion) budget needed, leaving it unable to fully contribute to national food security.
According to the International Food Policy Institute (IFPRI) and local experts from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), these dry conditions have critically hampered efforts to cultivate maize using residual soil moisture.
Additionally, rising water levels in the Shire Valley, exacerbated by the floodgates of Lake Malawi, have submerged many of the wetlands critical for winter cropping. This situation has significantly limited the potential for maize production in these areas.
As a result, agricultural experts have voiced concerns about the viability of the current strategies.
Amos Ngwira, an agriculture analyst, noted that some regions received insufficient rainfall, making it risky to depend on wetland cultivation.
Horace Phiri, a LUANAR agriculture economist, argued that the government’s strategy must be complemented by maize and maize flour imports to ensure adequate food supply.
Soaring Maize Prices and Food Insecurity
The situation has been further aggravated by soaring maize prices, which have more than doubled over the past three months, from about K522(US$0.45) per kilogram in May to nearly K1,000 (US$0.85) per kilogram in July.
This price hike has made maize unaffordable for over 70% of Malawians, who live below the international poverty line of K3,600 (US$2.15) per day.
Despite its mandate to stabilize grain prices during crises, the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) has struggled to secure adequate maize supplies.
With approximately K38 billion (US$35.5 million) available for procurement, Admarc has only managed to purchase 26,000 MT of maize, far below the required tonnage to alleviate supply shortages and curb rising prices.
On the other hand, the National Food Reserves Agency (NFRA) is also falling short of its goals. Despite setting a target to procure 60,000 MT of maize, the agency has so far managed to secure only 25,000
In a report released on May 29, 2024, IFPRI researchers warned that the Ministry of Agriculture’s reliance on winter cropping was unlikely to succeed.
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