Raising food prices and maize shortages have forced Malawi’s government to maintain the maize export ban this year, Minister of Industry and Trade John Bande said on Friday

An estimated 2 million people face food shortages this year in the southern African nation due to prolonged dry spells and soaring food prices that have pushed consumer inflation to 26.6 percent as of September.

“The export ban on maize and maize products has not been lifted because of the food shortages that we are experiencing. As such, no person is allowed to to export maize and maize products, if found, they will be prosecuted accordingly,” Bande said

Landlocked Malawi has in the last six years reaped bumper harvests of maize – it’s staple food- because of a successful fertilizer subsidy program. But it still remains a net importer of other food items.