The Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) has announced that it will open its markets to buy farmer’s produce at better prices, as traders have been offering bad deals for farmers, buying their produce at prices lower than government set prices.

According to Admarc’s spokesperson, Agnes Chokotho said the firm will be buying maize at K170 per kilogram, as recommended by set prices by the government. She also announced that Admarc would be buying Soya, Polished/unpolished rice, sunflower and more.

In mid-April, government released farm gate prices for the 2019 farming season; according to the announcement maize is priced at the minimum cost of K150 per Kilogram, up from last years’ K120. Polished rice is at K550 per Kilogram whilst unpolished is selling at K250 per Kilogram, Sunflower K310 Kilogram while cotton grade A is at K375 per Kilogram and Grade B is at K300 per Kilogram.

The Ministry has since advised all traders interested to buy farm produce to obtain licenses from its offices.