Farmgate maize prices set to rise
Farmers growing maize should expect good prices this harvesting season following a strong demand in the region, John Magnay, the Uganda Grain Traders (UGT) Limited chief executive said on Monday.
By Steven Odeu
Farmers growing maize should expect good prices this harvesting season following a strong demand in the region, John Magnay, the Uganda Grain Traders (UGT) Limited chief executive said on Monday.
“We will start with Tanzania in the next three months and then the rest to Kenya. Our market price today is between sh220 and sh240 per kilo, but quality maize for exports will be at sh300 per kilo,†he said.
UGT is a consortium of 16 grain traders that was started in 2001.
To ensure quality of maize exports, the Government, through the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) have imposed new regulations.
This is in line with a regional strategy on liberalisation and standardisation of maize trade.
“Uganda is expecting a bumper harvest in February/March and July/Aug- ust and we want all Ugandan maize to reach our export markets in the best quality condition,†Magnay said.
The new measures require that there be inspection, testing and certification of the maize, before to export.
The minimum requirements are maize should be below 14% moisture, less than 2% Foreign matter, free from live weevils, phytosanitary certificate, fumigation certificate, standardised packing indicating Weight / Origin / Batch number / Exporter, Laboratory Analysis and Certificate of Conformity and Certificate of Origin.
Officials said Certificates from UNBS, SGS and Chemiphar laboratories will be accepted during the inspection of the maize at the exit points.
Farmers growing maize should expect good prices this harvesting season following a strong demand in the region, John Magnay, the Uganda Grain Traders (UGT) Limited chief executive said on Monday.
“We will start with Tanzania in the next three months and then the rest to Kenya. Our market price today is between sh220 and sh240 per kilo, but quality maize for exports will be at sh300 per kilo,†he said.
UGT is a consortium of 16 grain traders that was started in 2001.
To ensure quality of maize exports, the Government, through the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) have imposed new regulations.
This is in line with a regional strategy on liberalisation and standardisation of maize trade.
“Uganda is expecting a bumper harvest in February/March and July/Aug- ust and we want all Ugandan maize to reach our export markets in the best quality condition,†Magnay said.
The new measures require that there be inspection, testing and certification of the maize, before to export.
The minimum requirements are maize should be below 14% moisture, less than 2% Foreign matter, free from live weevils, phytosanitary certificate, fumigation certificate, standardised packing indicating Weight / Origin / Batch number / Exporter, Laboratory Analysis and Certificate of Conformity and Certificate of Origin.
Officials said Certificates from UNBS, SGS and Chemiphar laboratories will be accepted during the inspection of the maize at the exit points.