The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development has announced the release of minimum farm gate prices for strategic crops for 2025/2026 season with various stakeholders receiving the development with mixed reactions.
According to a communique addressed to the public and signed by the secretary for Agriculture, Irrigation and Water development Erica Maganga, the prices are with immediate effect, urging agro-dealers, and others dealing with commodities to buy crops at prices not less than newly stipulated prices.
The ministry has further indicated that the released minimum farm gate prices applies to 18 strategic crops for this year’s growing season in the country.
For instance, the Ministry has set a minimum price for maize at k900 per kilogram, Rice-Paddy at K1500, Sorghum at K1100, Finger millet at K1,400, Soya beans at K1700, Pure beans at K3400, mixed beans at K2500 while white Harricot beans have been set at K3000 per kilogram.
The Ministry has further indicated that an approved minimum price for milk will be at K1000 per litre, Paprica at K3800 per kilogram, Sunflower at K1500 per kilogram while shelled and un-shelled groundnuts will be at K3500 and K2000 per kilogram respectively.
However, commenting on the development, various stakeholders in the country have received the newly prices with mixed reactions.
Grace Mijiga Mhango, who is the president for the Grain Traders Association of Malawi has described the prices as fair and believes the prices will create a win-win situation to both producers and consumers if maintained on the market.
“There are fair prices by just looking at the timing that we are just barely harvesting and most of the content for the most of the crops is still high and I hope the prices will go up based on the demand and supply on the market.” Said Mhango.
However, an agriculture expert Leonard Chimwaza expressed a different view as he believes that many food prices, especially for staples that people depend on are fair to consumers but devastating to producers to meet production costs.
Chimwaza said, “the prices themselves are clear showing that low stipulated food prices may help consumers but will be hard for producers to make enough profit that are tangible with the current high costs of production.”
“I suggest that farmers will only make profits if they sell their produce through cooperatives and reliable markets.” Added Chimwaza.
Among others, the Agriculture ministry has further urged people across the country willing to obtain licenses for buying agricultural produce to visit Director of Crop Development offices and all program manager’s in Karonga, Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Kasungu, Salima, Machinga, Blantyre and Shire Valley Agricultural Development Divisions (ADDs).
