Ministry of Agriculture has projected a 14 percent drop in maize production in the 2021/22 agriculture season first round crop estimates.

Last season maize output was estimated at 4 581 524 metric tonnes (MT).

In an interview yesterday, Ministry of Agriculture spokesperson Gracian Lungu said the crop production estimate survey conducted between September 2021 and January 2022 on farmers’ intentions on crops they planned to plant also found that there will be six and three percent decreases in rice and beans production, respectively.

But the survey projects an increase in soya beans by 14 percent, groundnuts by 2.2 percent, millet by 1.5 percent and pigeon peas by 0.6 percent.

Maize is the staple for Malawi

Lungu said: “The drop in maize production will play less impact on food security because we are expecting to harvest over 3.8 million metric tonnes [MT], but as a country we need about 2.9 million metric tonnes [MT] for consumption. We are still hoping that we will have excess.”

He said the survey did not take into account the impact of Tropical Storm Ana, which hit 18 of the country’s 28 districts, pro-longed dry spells, fall army worms, the late onset of rains and some farmers’ failure to access the Affordable Inputs Programme top dressing fertilisers.

Reacting to the estimates in an interview yesterday, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) agricultural economist Horace Phiri said the 14 percent maize output drop is understated.

He said he expects maize production this year to be less than what the nation considering the impact of Tropical Storm Ana, fall armyworms and AIP challenges.

On his part, agricultural systems agronomist at Chitedze Research Station Amosi Ngwira observed that the drop in maize production will trigger higher prices of grain that many farmers will not afford.

He said the development will have implications on government spending on food importation.

“Proposed solutions or one way of preparedness is to encourage farmers to diversify their food base, venture into irrigation farming, government to prepare for maize import and prepare farmers on expected increased prices of grain,” said Ngwira.

Agriculture policy analyst Tamani Nkhono Mvula said government quickly consider releasing funds to State grain produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation and National Food Reserve Agency to start buying maize in good time.

In the 2020/21 agriculture season final crop estimate, maize production was estimated at 4 581 524 metric tonnes, while for the 2019/20, maize production was estimated at 3 785 712 MT.

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