Sammuel999
JF-Expert Member
- Jun 1, 2016
- 3,481
- 2,347
Kenya has declined Malawi's request to buy
1.2 million tonnes of local maize to meet the
shortage in the drought-hit southern Africa
state.
A letter seen by the Business Daily, written on
behalf of the Principal Secretary in the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the director of
crops, makes a request on behalf of Malawi.
In response, the director of crops Johnston
Irungu says the country is not in a position
to sell maize due to the limited stocks.
"Referring to your letter, we are not able at
the moment to sell maize to Malawi as per
their request. We currently have 10 million
bags of maize which can only last for three
months," said Dr Irungu in the letter dated
May 31.
In 2010, Malawi played a major role in
exporting maize to Kenya at a time the
country was faced with a serious shortage
that saw the price of a two- kilogramme
maize flour shoot to Sh150 for the first time
in Kenya's history.
Malawi is requesting for maize in the wake of
a severe food shortage following a prolonged
dry spell.
This is the first time Malawi has requested for
maize from Kenya, which itself is a food
deficit country and relies on cross-border
imports from neighbouring countries to meet
the annual requirement.
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER ADVERTISEMENT
The entire southern Africa including Zambia
and South Africa have been faced with severe
food shortages resulting from poor weather.
Kenya has in previous years been relying on
Malawi and Zambia for white non-genetically
modified maize to bridge the shortfall.
The shortage in Malawi will impact negatively
on Kenya's imports from Tanzania given the
fact that most maize from Dar will find its
way to Lilongwe (Malawi capital) owing to
attractive prices triggered by high demand.
Millers have been banking on the Tanzanian
crop to boost the depleted stock that has so
far pushed up the price of flour in Kenya, with
a two-kilogramme bag selling at over Sh100.
Farmers in Tanzania started harvesting last
month but the stocks are hardly coming to
Kenya according to millers.
Dr Irungu said that good prices might see
some Kenyan traders export produce to
Malawi via Tanzania.
"We are currently working under a common
business treaty and traders from Kenya might
export their crop to Malawi in order to benefit
from prevailing high prices," he said.
geza njaa si ya nyanyako!
1.2 million tonnes of local maize to meet the
shortage in the drought-hit southern Africa
state.
A letter seen by the Business Daily, written on
behalf of the Principal Secretary in the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the director of
crops, makes a request on behalf of Malawi.
In response, the director of crops Johnston
Irungu says the country is not in a position
to sell maize due to the limited stocks.
"Referring to your letter, we are not able at
the moment to sell maize to Malawi as per
their request. We currently have 10 million
bags of maize which can only last for three
months," said Dr Irungu in the letter dated
May 31.
In 2010, Malawi played a major role in
exporting maize to Kenya at a time the
country was faced with a serious shortage
that saw the price of a two- kilogramme
maize flour shoot to Sh150 for the first time
in Kenya's history.
Malawi is requesting for maize in the wake of
a severe food shortage following a prolonged
dry spell.
This is the first time Malawi has requested for
maize from Kenya, which itself is a food
deficit country and relies on cross-border
imports from neighbouring countries to meet
the annual requirement.
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER ADVERTISEMENT
The entire southern Africa including Zambia
and South Africa have been faced with severe
food shortages resulting from poor weather.
Kenya has in previous years been relying on
Malawi and Zambia for white non-genetically
modified maize to bridge the shortfall.
The shortage in Malawi will impact negatively
on Kenya's imports from Tanzania given the
fact that most maize from Dar will find its
way to Lilongwe (Malawi capital) owing to
attractive prices triggered by high demand.
Millers have been banking on the Tanzanian
crop to boost the depleted stock that has so
far pushed up the price of flour in Kenya, with
a two-kilogramme bag selling at over Sh100.
Farmers in Tanzania started harvesting last
month but the stocks are hardly coming to
Kenya according to millers.
Dr Irungu said that good prices might see
some Kenyan traders export produce to
Malawi via Tanzania.
"We are currently working under a common
business treaty and traders from Kenya might
export their crop to Malawi in order to benefit
from prevailing high prices," he said.
geza njaa si ya nyanyako!
