By Burnett Munthali
The Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) has warned of possible losses of maize and fertiliser stocks due to a shortage of tarpaulins, as the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigates a proposed K2.97 billion procurement contract for the materials.
ADMARC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ben Botolo said the shortage is affecting the corporation’s ability to fumigate and protect stored grain in some locations, exposing commodities to pest infestation and rain damage.
“ADMARC will be forced to offload most of its commodity because fumigation will only be done using these tarpaulins. Now we are faced with challenges of fumigation and infestation of grain since we do not have tarpaulins in some areas,” said Botolo.
He explained that ADMARC operates 359 markets, most of which have warehouses that require tarpaulins for fumigation and protection of stored commodities, particularly during the rainy season when damaged or blown-off roofs can expose stocks to rain and moisture.
Botolo said delays in procuring the materials this year can result in losses of grain and fertiliser.
The ACB issued a restriction notice on October 9, 2026, halting the proposed award of contract number ADMARC/NCB/TP/2026/2027/02 to Maiden Investment for the supply of 100 tarpaulins valued at approximately K2.97 billion.
Botolo said ADMARC is awaiting the outcome of the investigation, stressing that the procurement process only reached the intention-to-award stage and that no bidder was formally challenged the proposed award.
“What appeared in the papers was an intention to award. No single bidder has challenged the intention to award. The ones making noise are not the bidders,” he said.
He added that most competing bidders submitted quotations exceeding K2.9 billion, with some bids reaching K3.5 billion and others as high as K4.5 billion.
Botolo said the bidders understood the specifications required by ADMARC.
On the cost of the materials, he said a Blantyre-based company manufactures similar tarpaulins at approximately K24 million each, with production taking a full day per unit.
The investigation comes as ADMARC faces mounting pressure to protect food and agricultural input stocks while awaiting the ACB’s findings.
