By Macrines Nyapendi

THE regional demand for Ugandan food stuffs has declined. The drop follows the occurrence of rains in the areas that were hit by drought.

In its monthly report, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Market Information Service, said maize crossing to Kenya through Busia dropped from 4,000 metric tonnes between January and March to 100 tonnes daily.

The report said the rains had shifted consumption patterns from common staples to other foodstuffs such as vegetables and potatoes.

“The prices for beans have not come down because the demand is relatively higher than that for maize brand.
“Maize flour prices are high because of constant power cuts and the growing demand for it in Southern Sudan,” IITA’s Lincoln Talwana, said.

He said other than load-shedding, Umeme had dislodged several transformers from Kisenyi due to excessive overloads from the concentration of local artisans there.
“Grain milling has been moved from Kisenyi to producing areas like Iganga, Jinja, Nateete and Kawempe,” Talwana said.