Background of NFRA
The National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) was established by the Malawi Government in 1999 as a Trust to assume responsibility for management of the nation's Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR).
In 2000, the NFRA's Trust Deed was amended to include the stabilization of prices and the grain market besides being responsible for the importation and exportation of grain on behalf of Government.
In 2000, the NFRA's Trust Deed was amended to include the stabilization of prices and the grain market besides being responsible for the importation and exportation of grain on behalf of Government.
Adequate reserves for Malawi
To manage grain reserves with the highest standard of quality for the Malawi nation
A world class Strategic Grain Reserve Agency
1. Efficiency & Effectiveness which means dedication to producing timely results at minimal cost
2. Trustworthiness which means upholding professional business ethics
3. Quality Performance which means to be leaders in the maintenance of high standards
4. Developmental which means being a learning organisation
2. Trustworthiness which means upholding professional business ethics
3. Quality Performance which means to be leaders in the maintenance of high standards
4. Developmental which means being a learning organisation
Mandate of NFRA
Our main mandate of NFRA is the management and maintenance of the strategic grain reserves by holding ready resources in the form of physical grain stocks and funds necessary for use through normal marketing channels to help reduce the impact of failure of the private sector to respond to market signals and/or make adequate provisions to satisfy national requirements of grain.
The Agency is therefore an important instrument for tackling food insecurity and providing emergency relief for vulnerable groups of the population.
The Agency is therefore an important instrument for tackling food insecurity and providing emergency relief for vulnerable groups of the population.
Strategic Objectives
- Within the financial resources available and the stipulated size of reserve stocks, to purchase, store and release grain as determined by the Trustees in the basis determined as above and in line with draw down procedures and NFRA’s operations manual
- To efficiently manage the financial, physical and human resources and storage facilities entrusted to and/or acquired by the Agency
- At the initiation of sponsors, to make stocks accessible at short notice for emergency relief and social safety net purposes.
- To the extent possible to contribute to private sector development in the grain market including training on quality control, dissemination of business and market information and adding value to agricultural products, market interventions and development of new financial institutions
- To advise government on matters relating to food security and the grain market, including market stabilization, imports and export coordination and to intervene in these activities to optimal impact.
Rationale of Having an SGR
The SGR is defined as the level of extra grain stock that is maintained to mitigate risk of shortfall due to uncertainties in supply and demand of grain. The underlying objective of setting up a national SGR in our country was to cushion the nation against the country's maize production deficits in order to protect the poor and vulnerable in times of scarcity.
This is against the backdrop of Malawi's high susceptibility to flooding, drought and other natural disasters which affect negatively sustainable food security. Acute household food insecurity in this country is a recurrent phenomenon during the lean period.
It is in this vein therefore, that the Malawi Government decided to maintain physical stocks of the SGR as one of the valuable mechanisms for improving access to and distribution of maize for emergency and non emergency causes. The rationale for establishing the SGR remains as valid today as when it was first established.
This is against the backdrop of Malawi's high susceptibility to flooding, drought and other natural disasters which affect negatively sustainable food security. Acute household food insecurity in this country is a recurrent phenomenon during the lean period.
It is in this vein therefore, that the Malawi Government decided to maintain physical stocks of the SGR as one of the valuable mechanisms for improving access to and distribution of maize for emergency and non emergency causes. The rationale for establishing the SGR remains as valid today as when it was first established.
Company Structure
NFRA has depots spread across the country, Lilongwe as the head office and other depots in Limbe, Luchenza, Bangula, Mangochi, Kazomba and Mzuzu.
The agency is led by the Chief Exceutive Officer supported by 3 functional departments namely Finance which is headed by the Finance Director, Operations which is headed by the Operations Director and Human Resource & Administration which is headed by the Human Resource and Administration Director.
The Agency also has an Internal Audit which provides an oversight function.
The agency is led by the Chief Exceutive Officer supported by 3 functional departments namely Finance which is headed by the Finance Director, Operations which is headed by the Operations Director and Human Resource & Administration which is headed by the Human Resource and Administration Director.
The Agency also has an Internal Audit which provides an oversight function.