Sunday, April 18, 2021
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Business Business News

Ministry partially lifts maize export ban

by Steve Chilundu
16/03/2021
in Business News
3 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

Ministry of Trade has partially lifted the maize export ban to mop up last year’s maize stocks to create space for the anticipated more than one million metric tonnes (MT) surplus grain.

In a statement yesterday, the ministry’s Principal Secretary Christina Zakeyo advised interested exporters to apply for export licences to enable them export the staple grain.

RelatedHeadlines

Covid-19 cash beneficiaries form savings groups

Banks speak on mortgage gaps

Mpico owed K10bn in rental arrears

maize | The Nation Online
Traders can now export maize after obtaining a licence

She said: “The ministry wishes to stress that the maize export licences will only be issued to exporters with proof of verifiable maize stocks from the previous agricultural season.

“The licences to be granted will have a validity period of three months from the date of issue.”

The Malawi government imposed an uninterrupted maize export ban from 2011/13 until the end of 2017. In early February 2018, government reintroduced the ban to preserve the national grain reserve and stem the impact of tighter domestic supplies.

Since last year, Grain Traders and Processors Association of Malawi has been calling for a lift on the ban due to huge maize stocks, which the local market cannot consume.

The association’s chairperson Grace Mijiga-Mhango in an interview yesterday commended government for lifting the ban, saying the stocks would have gone bad.

She said: “We are excited with the news because we recently officially requested the government to allow us to export the maize.

“Cumulatively, our membership has over 29 000 metric tonnes, which is verified stock but other traders would also have stock for exports.”

Minister of Trade Sosten Gwengwe earlier said government will allow maize exports using export mandates, a situation where no commodity is exported unless it goes through a structured market.

Currently, export mandates apply for tea and tobacco.

The minister said by using export mandates, government wants to ensure that foreign exchange is repatriated back to Malawi.

Agriculture development policy expert Tamani Nkhono Mvula cautioned government to manage the exports well to avoid creating maize shortage in future.

He said government should not bank on the first-round crop estimate, which shows the country will have one million MT of maize surplus.

“My view is that it is not a total lifting of the ban, but people should apply for export licences, which is a better move than opening up free-for-all to export,” he said.

Over the years, rice and maize have had export restrictions to ensure food security.

Maize remains the key staple crop in the country; hence, listed among protected crops.

Avatar
Steve Chilundu
Previous Post

Malawi agro sector growth defies Covid-19

Next Post

Chakwera, celebrities in Covid-19 campaign

Related Posts

Nkolokoti women sharing profits from their savings and loans interests
Business News

Covid-19 cash beneficiaries form savings groups

April 17, 2021
BANKS | The Nation Online
Business News

Banks speak on mortgage gaps

April 17, 2021
Kafoteka: Situation is stifling our operations
Business News

Mpico owed K10bn in rental arrears

April 16, 2021
Next Post
Tay Grin: We need to make sure that our mental space is positive

Chakwera, celebrities in Covid-19 campaign

Discussion about this post

Opinions and Columns

People’s Tribunal

Cut the crap, act on abuse forthwith

April 17, 2021
Emily Mkamanga

No ransom for service delivery

April 17, 2021
Cut the Chaff

Tonse administration has bigger fish to fly

April 17, 2021
Off the Shelf

More fire on draining the swamp

April 17, 2021
https://www.mwnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WFP-Afikepo-1-2.pdf https://www.mwnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WFP-Afikepo-1-2.pdf https://www.mwnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WFP-Afikepo-1-2.pdf

Trending Stories

  • Has over 25 cases to handle: Silungwe

    Chakwera, AG meet over MEC

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • MPs in funds abuse go free

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Heartless plunder

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • ACB out of MRA case

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Made See needs help—Namadingo

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2021 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.