‘Do not sell maize to vendors’

Ntcheu District Council has advised farmers in the district not to sell all  farm produce to vendors.

Speaking in an interview, Ntcheu District Council agriculture sub-committee chairperson councillor Morris Richman said smallholder farmers should avoid selling the produce before the opening of formal markets.

The call comes when most parts of the country have started harvesting and vendors are expected to flock to the villages to buy farm produce.

Richman advised farmers not to rush into selling all farm produce to vendors to avoid becoming food insecure.

“Due to erratic rainfall and fall armyworms, I appeal to farmers not to sell all their produce. Since most of farmers rely on maize for food, we advise them to be cautious with influx of vendors,” he said.

Richman appealed to farmers to wait for government to announce minimum farm gate prices which are expected to be higher than those offered by the vendors.

Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development estimates that about 292 000 hectares of maize, millet and sorghum were affected by armyworms.

A Food and Agricultural Organisation report released on March 28 indicates that the twin scourge will result in the country realising less harvest than last year.

“The 2018 maize production is forecast to be around 3 million tonnes, with a decline between 10 and 15 percent compared to the 2017 output,” reads the report in part.

Meanwhile, Richman has asked farmers to start preparing gardens for winter cropping.