Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale says the country’s Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) depots are expected to open markets on December 1, 2022.

Speaking in Parliament, Kawale said his Ministry intends to recall about 1, 000 employees from those who were sent on forced leave in August this year.

In an interview, Kawale said the State produce marketer has over 82, 000 metrics tons in its reserves.

“We are very much aware of the hunger situation in the country, so we want to make sure that we supply maize adequately across the country,” he said.

The agriculture minister further disclosed that the Corporation will be selling its maize at K300 per kilogram.

But opposition lawmaker for Mangochi Southwest Shadric Namalomba has expressed reservations on the quantity of the maize in accordance with how food insecurity has affected the country.

He wondered: “We do have the maize, over 83 metric tons available in the country that we can access from the strategic reserves but also there is which is under collateral in the Banks, we are also getting that.

“That maize isn’t enough, hunger won’t be contained, people will still struggle because that maize isn’t enough and can’t guarantee on the price, the price will skyrocket.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Finance Sosten Gwengwe has disclosed that Treasury will soon commence disbursement of two months’ salary for the suspended Admarc Staff.