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- Jan 20, 2016
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Kenya has imported more than $6.6 million’s worth of maize from Tanzania and Uganda in the past one month amid claims of contamination of its own maize in government stores, as a result of which the retail price of a 2kg packet has risen by $0.15 in the past three months.
This development comes barely three months after Kenya and Uganda sold more than 10,000 tonnes to Tanzania to help fight starvation in neighbouring Malawi.
READ: Kenya turns down maize buy request from drought-hit Malawi
ALSO READ: Malawi famine a boon for maize farmers in East Africa
Data from the Regional Agricultural Trade Intelligence Network (Ratin) shows that since the start of June, Kenya has imported 18,754 tonnes of maize from neighbouring countries, with 13,103 tonnes coming from Tanzania.
In the past week alone, Kenya imported more than 4,700 tonnes at an average cost of $300 per tonne, indicating a sharp rise demand for the commodity.
Tanzania’s Minister for Agriculture, Livestock And Fisheries Mwigulu Nchemba said that the country is self-sufficient in food and is selling the surplus to neighbouring countries.
“In the last harvest, nine out of the 25 regions produced surplus food. We expect a bumper harvest in many parts of the country in September. This will see us continue selling the surplus within the EAC,” Mr Nchemba said.
Kenya’s Cereal Millers Association said that it has been buying from Tanzania and this has helped keep the stock prices stable.
Nick Hutchinson, the lobby’s chairman, said they have cut production by close to 40 per cent due to the maize shortage.
“Our members have been shunning the maize from the government silos due to contamination. We are banking on the harvest from Tanzania to boost our stocks,” Mr Hutchinson said.
This development comes barely three months after Kenya and Uganda sold more than 10,000 tonnes to Tanzania to help fight starvation in neighbouring Malawi.
READ: Kenya turns down maize buy request from drought-hit Malawi
ALSO READ: Malawi famine a boon for maize farmers in East Africa
Data from the Regional Agricultural Trade Intelligence Network (Ratin) shows that since the start of June, Kenya has imported 18,754 tonnes of maize from neighbouring countries, with 13,103 tonnes coming from Tanzania.
In the past week alone, Kenya imported more than 4,700 tonnes at an average cost of $300 per tonne, indicating a sharp rise demand for the commodity.
Tanzania’s Minister for Agriculture, Livestock And Fisheries Mwigulu Nchemba said that the country is self-sufficient in food and is selling the surplus to neighbouring countries.
“In the last harvest, nine out of the 25 regions produced surplus food. We expect a bumper harvest in many parts of the country in September. This will see us continue selling the surplus within the EAC,” Mr Nchemba said.
Kenya’s Cereal Millers Association said that it has been buying from Tanzania and this has helped keep the stock prices stable.
Nick Hutchinson, the lobby’s chairman, said they have cut production by close to 40 per cent due to the maize shortage.
“Our members have been shunning the maize from the government silos due to contamination. We are banking on the harvest from Tanzania to boost our stocks,” Mr Hutchinson said.
