By Chikondano Haward
Farmers in Salima say they are being pushed to the brink of financial loss as vendors continue to buy crops below government-set minimum prices, while allegedly using tampered weighing scales to maximise their profits.
Earlier this season, the Ministry of Agriculture announced minimum farm-gate prices aimed at safeguarding farmers from exploitation. But in many parts of Salima, those prices remain largely ignored.
“I had hoped to recover and make a profit this year,” says Japhet Phiri, a soya bean farmer from Chigombe under Senior Chief Kalonga. “But the market is not favourable. The prices are too low, and now I don’t even know how I will repay my loan,” she added.
An MBC spot check in parts of the district found that maize is being bought at around K800 per kilogram, below the government’s recommended K900. Soya beans and beans are also trading below expected minimum thresholds, raising concerns about widespread non-compliance.
Farmers and local leaders allege that some vendors are using uncertified and possibly tampered weighing scales further disadvantaging already vulnerable producers.
One vendor operating in Mlamba area under Senior Chief Kambwiri admitted to using an uncertified scale, saying he was unaware of the certification process by the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS).
“Sometimes we negotiate prices, especially when the crop quality is poor,” he said.
While quality concerns are valid in agricultural markets, experts argue they are increasingly being used to justify unfair pricing practices.
Agricultural analyst Grecian Kamnyamata says the situation reflects a bigger picture.
“We need joint action involving authorities, local leaders, and farmers themselves to ensure that only licensed vendors operate and that certified equipment is used” he said.
District agriculture officer, Enford Kanyimbo has advised farmers to make sure that their crops are completely dried and well taken care of before reaching the market to avoid damaging through rotting which imposes a great lose to the farmers because low quality products attracts lower prices as well.
Kanyimbo said ADMARC remains a competent and trusted buyer because it uses certified scales with better prices unlike vendors.
Our spot check has shown that ADMARC limited has not yet started buying crops from farmers which forces them to sell their crops to vendors who take advantage of more supply and triggers lower prices.
The Malawi Bureau of Standards, which is mandated to regulate weighing instruments through it’s Director of Metrology Services at MBS Steven Chalimba says they started verification exercise of scales last month with few districts in the southern, central and northern region and will to reach out to all districts.
Chalimba has assured farmers that MBS will make sure their crops are protected from the use of tampered scales.
“Vendors have been reluctant to show up for verification for their own reasons but we are going into final step of inspection to see if they are using certified scales and confiscate all uncertified scales as they infringe farmers rights” said Chalimba.
For farmers like Phiri, the stakes are rising with each passing day.
“If nothing changes, farming will no longer be sustainable for us,” he said.
Recently government through ministry of agriculture released farm gate minimum prices with among others maize is supposed to be bought at K900 per Kg while Soya beans at K1700 per Kg.
