By Our Reporter

LILONGWE — The Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) has confirmed that 70 metric tonnes of maize have spoled at its storage facility in Liwonde, Machinga District.

ADMARC Chief Executive Officer Ben Botolo confirmed the development, saying the damaged maize will not be sold for human consumption but will instead be disposed of through sale to livestock farmers for use as animal feed.

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Botolo did not immediately disclose the cause of the spoilage or the estimated financial loss resulting from the damaged grain. He, however, assured the public that the maize would be handled in accordance with appropriate procedures to ensure it does not enter the human food supply.

The revelation comes at a time when food security remains a key national concern and government continues to invest heavily in maintaining strategic grain reserves.

Recently, the government allocated K100 billion to the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) to facilitate the purchase of maize as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s food reserves and improve availability of the staple grain.

The confirmation of the spoiled maize is likely to raise questions about grain storage practices and post-harvest management, particularly as public resources continue to be invested in maize procurement.

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Agricultural experts have long stressed the importance of proper storage infrastructure, routine inspections and effective stock management to minimise post-harvest losses, which can undermine national food security and increase costs.

ADMARC has not yet indicated whether an assessment has been conducted to determine what led to the spoilage or whether measures are being implemented to prevent similar incidents at its storage facilities in the future.

Further details are expected as the corporation provides more information on the circumstances surrounding the loss.

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