Regional maize demand strains local stocks
Apr 18, 2004
A severe shortage of maize in Kenya and Tanzania due to poor harvests is mounting pressure on local supplies, Uganda Grain Traders Ltd (UGTL) has said.
By Steven Odeu
A severe shortage of maize in Kenya and Tanzania due to poor harvests is mounting pressure on local supplies, Uganda Grain Traders Ltd (UGTL) has said.
“The whole region is experiencing a severe shortage of maize, and Uganda is the only country currently supplying maize,†UGTL's chief executive John Magnay (left) said in an interview on Thursday.
“Kenya is buying a lot of maize from us, Tanzania is also buying and the World Food Programme (WFP) have been buying as well. This is therefore exerting pressure on the Ugandan supply,†Magnay said.
The regional shortage, which begun late year, has already led to higher prices presently trading between sh280 and 290 per kilo in Kampala from sh120/130 in 2002.
UGTL is buying maize for export at sh335 per kilo. UGTL has played a big role in helping local farmers market their surplus produce including maize, beans, soya beans, cowpeas and groundnuts.
To boost maize exports there is need to put in place a central cleaning and stocking place so as to meet the demands from the available external markets.
“Currently Uganda has the capacity to export 1000 tonnes of maize per day, but there will be no value in it if at the time of demand we have to collect maize in small quantities from different parts of the country to have the required supply,†said Magnay.
A severe shortage of maize in Kenya and Tanzania due to poor harvests is mounting pressure on local supplies, Uganda Grain Traders Ltd (UGTL) has said.
“The whole region is experiencing a severe shortage of maize, and Uganda is the only country currently supplying maize,†UGTL's chief executive John Magnay (left) said in an interview on Thursday.
“Kenya is buying a lot of maize from us, Tanzania is also buying and the World Food Programme (WFP) have been buying as well. This is therefore exerting pressure on the Ugandan supply,†Magnay said.
The regional shortage, which begun late year, has already led to higher prices presently trading between sh280 and 290 per kilo in Kampala from sh120/130 in 2002.
UGTL is buying maize for export at sh335 per kilo. UGTL has played a big role in helping local farmers market their surplus produce including maize, beans, soya beans, cowpeas and groundnuts.
To boost maize exports there is need to put in place a central cleaning and stocking place so as to meet the demands from the available external markets.
“Currently Uganda has the capacity to export 1000 tonnes of maize per day, but there will be no value in it if at the time of demand we have to collect maize in small quantities from different parts of the country to have the required supply,†said Magnay.