A survey by Centre for Social Concern (CfSC) has revealed that traders are violating gate prices set by government have started buying maize from some farmers at K80 per kilogramme (kg) against the government set minimum buying price of K150 per kg, as data shows from studies in markets in Mzimba, Lilongwe, Kasungu, Zomba and Chiradzulu last week.

CfSC economic governance programs officer Lucky Mfungwe said the above will cripple prospects and efforts to tame food shortage. Grain Traders Association of Malawi president Grace Mhango, while confirming that there are markets that are trading maize below the set minimum prices due to farmer desperation,  said there is need to let market forces decide on the pricing.

The development calls for responsible authorities to act on the malpractice, as farmers have decried lower prices offered by traders, but the farmers give in, out of desperation. Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) president Alfred Kapichira Banda urged government to empower chiefs in villages and other leaders in trading centres to ensure that no trader is offering farmers lower prices than the recommended ones.