Admarc banks on prisons, schools to offload maize

The Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) says it is relying on institutional buyers such as schools and prisons to help clear carryover maize stocks estimated at 23,000 metric tonnes (MT) as of May this year. Admarc spokesperson Theresa Chapulapula said the grain trader is continuing to sell maize but is taking a cautious approach due to forecasts pointing to a possible El Niño weather phenomenon. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the forthcoming El Niño could be among the strongest in recent years, raising concerns about food security and livelihoods in vulnerable communities. "Admarc continues to hold carryover maize stocks and sales are ongoing through various institutional buyers, including schools and prisons. "Given forecasts indicating the likelihood of an El Niño season, any remaining carryover stocks, together with maize purchased during the current marketing season, will be managed prudently to ensure adequate reserves and support national food security objectives," Chapulapula said. She could not comment on the volume of maize sold so far at a time when most households are using maize from their harvest. Admarc is currently purchasing maize from farmers across the country at the government-approved price of K900 per kilogramme. The corporation was allocated K60 billion to procure 60,000 MT of maize during the 2025-26 marketing season. A recent analysis by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network projects national maize production to be around average, supported by generally favourable rainfall conditions. Earlier this year, the Reserve Bank of Malawi projected maize output at about 3.3 million MT for the 2025-26 agricultural season, up from 2.9 million MT the previous year. Despite the increase, the projected harvest remains below the country's estimated annual maize requirement of about 3.5 million MT.

WIRE — The Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) says it is relying on institutional buyers such as schools and prisons to help clear carryover maize stocks estimated at 23,000 metric tonnes (MT) as of May this year. Admarc spokesperson Theresa Chapulapula said the grain trader is continuing to sell maize but is taking a cautious approach due to forecasts pointing to a possible El Niño weather phenomenon. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the forthcoming El Niño could be among the strongest in recent years, raising concerns about food security and livelihoods in vulnerable communities. "Admarc continues to hold carryover maize stocks and sales are ongoing through various institutional buyers, including schools and prisons. "Given forecasts indicating the likelihood of an El Niño season, any remaining carryover stocks, together with maize purchased during the current marketing season, will be managed prudently to ensure adequate reserves and support national food security objectives," Chapulapula said. She could not comment on the volume of maize sold so far at a time when most households are using maize from their harvest. Admarc is currently purchasing maize from farmers across the country at the government-approved price of K900 per kilogramme. The corporation was allocated K60 billion to procure 60,000 MT of maize during the 2025-26 marketing season. A recent analysis by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network projects national maize production to be around average, supported by generally favourable rainfall conditions. Earlier this year, the Reserve Bank of Malawi projected maize output at about 3.3 million MT for the 2025-26 agricultural season, up from 2.9 million MT the previous year. Despite the increase, the projected harvest remains below the country's estimated annual maize requirement of about 3.5 million MT.

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