Update: As the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) officially opened its maize buying season on June 1, the state produce trader entered the market with only K5 billion of its K60 billion budget, according to Nation Online. Chief Executive Officer Ben Botolo confirmed the corporation will buy maize at the government-approved price of K900 per kilogramme.
However, the Grain Traders Association of Malawi warned that the funding shortfall leaves farmers vulnerable to private vendors. According to Malawi24, the association's president Grace Mijiga-Mhango noted that some private buyers are reportedly offering as little as K600 per kilogramme, exploiting the gap left by the state buyer's limited purchasing capacity.