Uncle Harvest: Malawi government MDAs operating in silos

MALAWI: The Nation newspaper of Friday 3 December, 2021 carried an article titled “Ministry of Trade Opens Export Window” and plans to export 500 000 MT of maize.

This it is doing on the understanding that there is sufficient stock of maize in the country.

Only a few weeks ago, the Board Chairperson of the National Strategic Grain Reserve was mourning the fact that the silos that store strategic maize reserves are empty.

This as a result of NRFA not having been funded to purchase maize and restock the Strategic Grain Reserve.

The question is: “Who is telling the truth? What is the real situation with the food situation in the country?”

ADMARC has its own position and story as well.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security must take a proactive leadership role in this matter and provide clarity.

Let us stop politicking about food security in the country. Food is a critical issue of concern.

No games or business as usual attitude towards its management.

The government cannot afford to operate in silos and end up implementing contradicting policies on the same subject matter.

Such is a scenerio that leads to tragedy ends.