By Durell Namasani
The government has said the exportation offer of 50,000 metric tonnes for pigeon peas to India was still on and has been extended to 2025.
Director of Trade in Goods at Ministry of Trade and Industry, Charity Musonzo disclosed this Wednesday in Lilongwe during a press briefing on the implementation of National Single Window project at the Ministry which is being implemented by Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project (SATCP) with funding from World Bank as part of the Nacala Corridor development.
She said the 2018 Pigeon peas offer was still binding and the only set back was that the country was failing to supply the required quantities.
“We have been exporting Pigeon peas to India but the quantity is not desirable for the country and we need to encourage farmers to venture into massive production of the crop,” Musonzo added.
The Director said increase in production of pigeon peas would help the country to earn forex which could help boost the country’s foreign reserves.
She expressed concern that although the offer has been in play for the past six years, most traders and farmers are not committing themselves to exporting the commodity.
“We are hoping this year we will have increased volumes of Pigeon peas products which can satisfy the international markets demand,” Musonzo added.
She pointed out 50,000 metric tonnes export threshold still stand and the Indian government is more willing to even extended the offer beyond 2025.
The Director appealed to traders and farmers to take up the opportunity and increase Pigeon peas production in the country.
A Pigeon pea trader, Wilson Limbanga said the low production of Pigeon peas in the country has come about due to poor pricing and unstable markets.
