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First round crop estimates show increase in maize production

The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development has released this growing season’s first Round of Agricultural production survey estimating a slight increase in maize production by 8.8 percent as compared to last growing season.

 It is estimated that 3 691 866 metric tonnes of maize will be produced in the 2019/2020 growing season an improvement from 3 391 924 metric tonnes in the 2018/2019 growing season.

The ministry has attributed the increase to favourable weather conditions and increased uptake of inputs by farmers.

 Apart from maize, the survey has also showed an increase in cereals, legumes, roots and tubers; livestock and fisheries production.

 “Rice production has increased by 9.8percent, millet 8.9 percent and sorghum at 3 percent— all this due to availability of seed, increased wetlands, government and other stakeholder programmes,” reads the statement in part.

On the other hand, legumes such as groundnuts, soya, pigeon peas and beans have also seen an increase in production of about 9.15 percent on average.

 Cotton production has also increased tremendously from 25,331 metric tonnes in 2018/2019 to 52,389 metric tonnes in 2019/2020 growing season representing a 106.8 percent.

The ministry has also attributed this increase to intensive promotion campaigns, seed availability and good market arrangements.

 Since November 2019 to January 2020 the country has received good rainfall and this is expected till March 2020.

 The Ministry will be carrying out second and third round of Agricultural production estimates survey in March and May 2020.

However, the final estimates will determine actual production and confirm whether Malawi will be food secure at both household and national levels. 

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