A latest study by the COMESA Competition Commission in collaboration with the Centre for Competition Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED) has revealed that Malawi is among countries with exorbitant fertiliser prices in the southern and eastern Africa.
The study has established that, among others, the Malawi fertiliser market has very few players which has resulted to lack of competition with largely two companies controlling the sector.
Commenting on the study, spokesperson for the Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) Innocent Helema says they will continue conducting the price monitoring to address the problem.
The funding by the COMESA competition and CRED has also revealed that suppliers in Malawi are selling fertilisers with a markup as high as 133% over and above the aggregate landed costs of the product.
Agriculture economist from the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Horace Phiri, has attributed the exorbitant prices to the forex shortage to import products like fertiliser.
