Screwed twice

This is the Admark maize store in Mzuzu today. (Symon, Christopher and the Chief, Matthews supervise the loading)
Admark is a goverment agency who should stabilise maize prices. They buy maize from farmers at 10 cents per kilo and should sell it at cost plus a handling charge, But todays price is cost plus 50%. This rip off is to prevent traders buying it (they say): A wonderful excuse.
The reason Harisen bought 14 bags today is that many of our people are hungry.
Why: because this time last year another goverment agency corruptly sold the coupons the same farmers should have got to buy subsidised fertiliser.
Lacking fertilizer, the maize failed and so the food has run out.
This disaster, caused by corruption, only happened in the north of Malawi, and who cares about a few hundred or thousand hungry people.
Goverment sources tell us of a bumper harvest and how subsidised artificial fertiliser is working so well. I have worries about this strategy and so do the World Bank!.

Harisen writes

John,
We went to buy maize for food for the guys in Sonda. They were all happy and were singing their usuall song of thanks giving to John.

I then went to Lusangazi and they have done some nursary beds and were planting the seeds.

Regards
Harisen