A report by the Centre for Social Concern (CfSC) has outlined that unscrupulous vendors are still defiant against the gate prices set by the Ministry of Agriculture; the vendors are buying up to 50% lower than what was directed.

The situation is rampant due to Admarc’s delay in opening of markets, as the report has called on the government to strictly enforce adherence to farm gate price by vendors and ensure that Admarc is capacitated to be able to open all its markets and have enough funds. The call for government’s intervention follows the Grain Traders Association of Malawi (Gtam), which said that the lack of integrity among vendors and some companies is exploiting smallholder farmers in the country.

On the other hand, figures from the CfSC report show that farmers are selling a 50 kilogrammes (kg) bag of maize at K5,000 and not K10,000 while vendors are buying a Soya beans bag at K10,000 instead of K15,000. “It is not fair for our members who have buying licenses to be buying at the set minimum prices and others are left scot free after buying at these low prices,” said Gtam president, Grace Mijiga Mhango.