The Ministry of Agriculture has called on the Machinga District Council to engage the Malawi Police Service in preventing traders from buying legumes at lower prices than the minimum farm gate prices.

Responsible minister Lobin Lowe made the call  during a tour of two agricultural projects implemented under the Agriculture Commercialisation Programme in the district. “We do not want unscrupulous traders to buy maize from our farmers below the farm gate price set by the government,” he said.

Lowe was accompanied by his deputy Agnes Nkusa Nkhoma, as they toured Machinga Value Addition and Nsanama Women Cassava Cooperative in Mbonechera Extension Planning Area.

Over the years, the delay in Admarc opening has left farmers selling to other buyers, out of desperation, which they are taken advantage of.