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Uncertainty hangs over surplus maize
By
Denis Mzembe - 27-05-2003 |
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The ministry of agriculture has said that while the country is likely to experience increased maize production, some areas in the country would still need food aid even before the end of this year.
In an interview on Monday, deputy minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Food Security, Henry Mussa, said a vulnerability assessment committee is currently looking at areas in the country that have not harvested enough maize.
“There are quite a number of places that will need maize. This is May but I can challenge that by September people may start going without maize,” he said.
An independent audit report on the sale of maize from the Strategic Grain Reserves (SGR) between 1999 and 2000 says the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) is currently heavily overstocked to meet current and foreseeable demand for maize at present.
The report, published by Economic Resources Limited and Ernst and Young, says in addition, substantial carry-over stocks are held by Admarc and smaller, but significant quantities by government, World Food Programme (WFP) and private traders.
“The resultant vast market overhang could easily lead to a price collapse hitting the poorest (the smallholder) along the lines of the sequence of events of 1999, the knock-on effects of which have been severe. It is the view of the consultants that these surplus stocks must be ring fenced from the market,” the report says.
The report suggests an immediate and active export exercise be undertaken to countries like Zimbabwe and Ethiopia to minimise losses.
“A side benefit could be a much needed boost for Malawi’s beleaguered road transport sector and/or for Central and East African Railways if Ethiopia proves a feasible destination,” the report adds.
Malawi’s second round crop estimates indicate that the country will this year experience a 38,000 metric tonne maize production deficit, deputy agriculture, irrigation and food security minister, Henry Mussa said Monday.
Last round crop estimates are due next month.
He said Malawi normally requires 1,938,447 tonnes of maize to feed its population while total production is expected at 1,900,350. Maize production for last year was at 1.7 million metric tonnes.
“There is a shortfall but it will be covered by carry over stocks from the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA),” he said.
Currently NFRA stocks about 223,500 metric tonnes in the Strategic Grain Reserves, he said.
Malawi is also experiencing an increased production of other crops which would also supplement the country’s food requirements.
Mussa said the production of rice has gone down by just about 6 percent from 92,097 metric tonnes from last year, while there is a 22 percent increase in groundnut production at 192,015 tonnes and the production of pulses has increased by 13 percent to 321,158 tonnes.
On the other hand, cassava production is up by 15 percent at 1,774,196 and sweet potato production has gone up by 36 percent at 1,444,087 tonnes.
“All this is a result of favourable weather conditions, increased use of fertilizer and good quality seed and a number of programmes that the ministry is implementing, like increased use of irrigation,” Mussa said.
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