Maize price highest in Southern Region, says institute
The International Food Policy Research Institute (Ifpri) says retail maize prices have remained highest in Southern Region despite some notable price declines in October.
In its October 2021 Monthly Maize Market Report, Ifpri said at the end of October, prices in the Southern Region averaged K166 per kilogramme (kg), four percent higher than last month.
In the Central Region, prices averaged K134 per kg, one percent higher than last month while in the Northern Region, prices averaged at K117 per kg, five percent lower than last month.
Reads the Ifpri report in part: “During October 2021, maize retail prices somewhat unexpectedly decreased by one percent.
“One of the reasons is that as the rainy season is fast approaching, farmers are releasing their maize as in-kind payment for farm preparation activities.”
Ifpri said the largest decrease was recorded in Mzuzu by 14 percent and Mulanje by 12 percent where prices averaged K131 and K168 per kg, respectively as at October 30 2021.
Retail prices, however, recorded the highest increase in Salima at 14 percent as prices averaged K148 per kg during the review period.
As of the end of October, retail prices of maize in most of the markets in Malawi were also lower at an average of K7 400 per 50 kg bag than in Zambia (K8 000), South Africa (K9 000), Maputo in Mozambique (K10 500), Rwanda (K 10 000), Tanzania (K12 500), Kenya (K15 000) and Uganda (K18 000).
In an interview on Friday, Grain Traders Association of Malawi president Grace Mhango said maize prices will continue to rise on the domestic market, but she said on the export front, the demand is low.
She said: “The looming hunger is more in Malawi and Mozambique, the rest of the region is okay and, as such, there is little export demand, but we also don’t see government allowing exports.”
Ministry of Trade spokesperson Mayeso Msokera said under the Control of Goods Act, maize remains a controlled commodity that requires licence from the Ministry of Trade to export.
In March this year, Ministry of Trade partially lifted the maize export ban to mop up last year’s maize stocks.
The ministry stopped issuing licences on April 23 2021.
