Malawi’s Agricultural Commodity Exchange for Africa (ACE) has said many farmers are being robbed of proceeds from their produce because of lack of information about its markets.
Speaking recently, ACE structured trade officer Chipiliro Kantikana said the existing market information gap has created fertile ground for traders to rob farmers of their produce.
“Last year, we had a farmer who had a lot of soya which he sold at K4 million (about $10 000) instead of K19 million (about $47 500) as per the lowest prices which licensed buyers were offering. Some illegal traders took advantage of his ignorance.
“A lot of farmers also fail to bargain for better prices because they are in the dark on better prices being offered on the market,” said Kantikana who was speaking in Lilongwe during the visit of 10 National Association of Business Women (Nabw) members based in Blantyre.
He also said lack of patience when selling farm produces continues to kill farmers.
Nabw projects officer Sophie Kumwanje said women are the most affected by the market information gap.
“The biggest challenge women are facing is market [of their produce],” she said.
World University Service of Canada (Wusc) sector programme officer Alice Gomonda said they have been sponsoring outreach visits for women to enlighten them on available markets in the country and abroad.
