The World Bank has provided US$45 million to Malawi to help address food shortages and strengthen the country’s food security systems.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Lilongwe on Friday, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Joseph Mwanamvekha, said part of the funds will be used to purchase maize from Zambia and support other food security interventions.
Mwanamvekha disclosed that the government will buy maize from Chipata, Zambia, at a cost of US$335 per metric tonne. He added that the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of China have each pledged an additional US$3 million to assist Malawi in purchasing food supplies.
The Minister further revealed that the Chinese Government has written off US$20 million of Malawi’s debt as part of efforts to help stabilize the country’s economy.
Apart from procuring maize from Zambia, Mwanamvekha said the government will also buy maize from local farmers who have expressed interest in selling their produce. He explained that Zambia was chosen as a key supplier due to its proximity, fair pricing, and the earlier reluctance of some local suppliers to sell at lower prices.
According to Mwanamvekha, about four million Malawians are expected to benefit from the initiative based on a recent national assessment. He said the maize will be reserved for emergency response and distributed free of charge to vulnerable households.
Meanwhile, Reserve Bank of Malawi Governor, Dr. Macdonald Mwale, assured that the government will make the necessary financial resources available to ensure the timely purchase and distribution of maize and other essential food commodities.
