A market update by the International Food Policy Research Institute (Ifpri) has shown a 25% maize price hike in areas affected by floods, while the rest of the country has experienced an increase of only 5% since the beginning of March.

The market update shows that maize prices in Chikwawa, Luchenza in Thyolo and Nsanje increased by 20 to 25 percent between March 10 and 11 in response to the floods while at Lunzu, Blantyre, prices rose by 10 percent.

Figures show that a 50 kilogramme (kg) bag of maize in Nsanje now costs K12,000 from K9,000 in March while in Chikwawa and Luchenza, the same bag is fetching K11,000 from K9,000 and K9500, respectively.