By Chisomo Phiri
The Malawi Government through Department of Agricultural Research Services has banned the importation of maize from Kenya and Tanzania pending risk analysis as the two countries have a devastating disease called Maize Lethal Necrosis.
In a statement 247 Malawi News has in possession, Agricultural Research Services Director Grace Kaudzu says the disease, that has no treatment and causes up to 100 percent yield loss, is under official control.
“In view of this, its presence in the aforementioned countries necessitated the suspension of any importation of whole grain until appropriate phytosanitary measures are established.
“In the interim, the commodity can only be imported milled, either as flour or grit,” says Kaudzu in a statement.
She says the disease viruses are transmitted by planting maize grain with the virus or through the vectors such as strips which are available in Malawi.
The 2023 Global hunger Index (GHI) in Malawi revealed that the country is facing serious hunger levels.
It ranked Malawi on position 88 out of 125 countries assessed in the index.
And an assessment by Fews Net in September this year showed that the national maize stock in both local and Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMRC) markets had significantly decreased.
Traders were reporting access to less than half of their required stocks.
Then, the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) held only around 56,000 metric tonnes in mid-October, relative to their target of 217,000 metric tonnes.
And the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) estimated need of 164,000 metric tonnes for humanitarian assistance during the lean season.
The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee’s report indicated that at least 4.4 million people would face hunger until March 2024
