Malawi for increased maize commercialisation

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security James Munthali has expressed disappointment over the low levels of commercial production of maize and called for more efforts to improve the situation.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ conference on maize commercialisation in Lilongwe yesterday, Munthali said the maize sub-sector is facing a number of challenges such as input constraints and low productivity.

He said: “Commercial production of maize by large-scale farmers has declined steadily due to poor prices of maize that led to low profitability.”

He said the process will also increase availability of foreign exchange in the country.

In his remark, Farmers World country cooperation and marketing manager Dexter Mkandawire said the meeting will come up with critical issues relating to commercialisation of maize.

If commercialised, maize would be among the main cash crops such as tobacco, tea and sugar cane which are mainly grown by the estate sector.