Agriculture
Malawi’s maize output to increase by 8.8% in 2019/2020.
February 24, 2020 / Bester Kayaye
The first round of Agricultural Production Survey conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture has projected an increase in cereal, legumes, roots and tubers, livestock and fisheries production in 2019/2020 growing season.
The survey has forecast that maize production will increase by 8.8% from 3.4-million metric tonnes in 2018/2019 growing season to 3.7-million in the 2019/2020 growing season due to favorable weather conditions and increased access to inputs by farmers.
According to the statement released by the Ministry, rice production will also increase by 9.8%, millet 8.9% and sorghum at 3% due to availability of seed, increased wetlands as well as support programmes by government and other stakeholders.
“Most of all cotton production has also increased tremendously from 25-thousand metric tonnes in 2018/2019 to 52-thousand metric tonnes in 2019/2020 growing season representing a 106.8% increase due to intensive promotion campaigns, favorable weather, seed availability and good market arrangements,” says the Ministry.
On livestock, the survey says production will increase as follows; cattle at 4%, pigs 7.7%, Sheep 3.2%, Goats 7.5%, Rabbits 5.5% and Quails at 192.5% due to improved livestock management practices such as good housing, feeding, breeding and disease control.
However, fish production is to register a decrease by 19.1% from 202-thousand metric tonnes to 169-thousand due to low catches, migration of fish and severe water stress.
During the 2019/2020 Mid-year Budget Review statement, Minister of Finance Joseph Mwanamveka said government has earmarked a total of K9.2 billion for maize purchase from smallholder farmers.
Mwanamveka said government will promote structured markets through commodity exchanges, warehousing systems and establishment of cooperatives as well as putting in place mechanisms to curb pilferage and illegal exportation of the country’s farm produce.
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