Lilongwe, Malawi: With the spectre of hunger looming large, Malawi’s Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and the Grain Traders Association have launched a concerted push for a dramatic increase in the government’s maize purchase allocation. They argue that the proposed K60 billion in the 2025/26 Budget is woefully inadequate to address the country’s critical food needs.
The call comes amidst growing concerns over the inadequacy of current food reserves and the perceived ineffectiveness of the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP). Sameer Suleman, chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee, insists that a minimum of K150 billion is necessary to ensure sufficient maize stocks.
“We are pushing the government to increase the amount allocated for maize purchases,” Suleman stated. “K60 billion right now, on paper, it might look like a lot of money, but when we consider the actual tonnage that will be bought and operational costs, you will see that it is very little.”
Suleman further suggested a radical move: diverting funds from the AIP, which he argues is draining resources with minimal impact on food security, towards maize purchases. The AIP has been allocated K131.6 billion in the upcoming budget. “We don’t see AIP working, so it is better to focus on getting food for our people,” he declared.
Grace Mijiga Mhango, of the Grain Traders Association, echoed these concerns, highlighting that the rising cost of maize means the current allocation would only cover a fraction of the required tonnage. She stressed the need to purchase between 150,000 to 200,000 metric tonnes to meet humanitarian and price stabilization needs. “If we don’t respond well on the food platform, inflation will continue to increase, and things will continue to be expensive,” she warned.
The Ministry of Finance, while acknowledging the concerns, has deferred to the Ministry of Agriculture, suggesting that they are best placed to address the issue. Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale, while appreciating the stakeholders’ concerns, emphasized the need to balance food security with other national priorities. He assured that the proposal would be considered in the broader fiscal planning process.
The urgency of the situation is underscored by the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee’s estimation that 5.7 million people are food-insecure, requiring 261,574 metric tonnes of food assistance during the 2024/2025 lean season. With the threat of widespread hunger looming, the government faces mounting pressure to act decisively and allocate the necessary resources to ensure food security for its citizens. The debate over funding allocation reflects a wider struggle to find a sustainable and effective solution to Malawi’s recurring food crises.
