While most farmers are yet to adjust to new prices of some hybrid seeds on the market, Seed Trade Association of Malawi (STAM) says many manufacturers will announce new prices of the products between August and September.

Seed Business Development Officer for the Association, Supply Chisi, has revealed this as preparations for 2025/2026 growing season are currently underway.

Chisi attributes this to increase in costs of raw materials and wage bill, awe well as high interest rates in commercial banks.
Prices we have seen on the market show a sharp rise, to hybrid seed varities ranging from maize, soybeans and rice.

Currently, some companies have already raised prices of hybrid seeds on the market. 

For instance a ten kilograms packet of one variety of hybrid maize is now selling at 138,000 Kwacha from 101,000 Kwacha, while a five kilograms of another maize variety that was selling at 20,500 Kwacha has been hiked to 28,000 Kwacha.

Price for one kilogram of another variety has been adjusted from 9,300 kwacha to 12,700 kwacha, while ten kilograms for the same variety has soared from 81,000 kwacha to 111,600 kwacha.

But, Chisi these prices are on the lower side comparing with other countries in the region.

"It's just general increase in prices of all goods and services. We produce seed using other inputs like chemicals and fertilizers", he  says.

"So when we look at costing of the seed those are true reflections of what farmers should expect to buy".

He stresses that increase in fertilizer prices and interest rates at commercial banks are the big contributing factors to the soaring certified seed prices.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Expert Dr Kingdom Kwapata, says this will negatively affect agriculture production, as most farmers will struggle to afford hybrid seeds.

Dr Kwapata says it is high time government started supporting local seed manufacturing companies, emphasizing that the situation at hand is largely emanating from supply and demand imbalances.

"What we need to do as a country is to motivate more production of seed. There are a number of small seed companies failing to grow, they need support" he hints.

Notably, the price surge comes at a time when the uptake of certified seeds in the country is low, exacerbating the issue.