AGRICULTURE authorities in Malawi, which normally faces a maize deficit, said on Monday they expect a record yield of the crop this year. Ellard Malindi, principal secretary in the ministry of agriculture, said estimates show that 2,35 tons of the staple maize will be harvested. “This will be the highest ever maize yield to be reached by Malawi. He attributed the anticipated bumper harvest to free fertiliser and seed inputs, funded by the government and donors to the tune of $30-million, to some 2,86-million households across the country.