Kenya ready to purchase maize in Zambia

A Kenyan grain Trading Company, Baita Trading Limited, says it is ready to immediately purchase 10.8 million bags of maize from Zambia to help meet Kenya’s urgent grain deficit. Baita Trading Limited Director, Martin Kinoti says the company is responding to an immediate need in…

A Kenyan grain Trading Company, Baita Trading Limited, says it is ready to immediately purchase 10.8 million bags of maize from Zambia to help meet Kenya’s urgent grain deficit.

Baita Trading Limited Director, Martin Kinoti says the company is responding to an immediate need in Kenya, where the country is expected to record a below-normal maize harvest this year.

Mr Kinoti said Kenya has declared a national requirement of about 25 million bags of maize, equivalent to approximately 2.2 million metric tonnes when calculated using 90-kilogramme bags.

He was speaking today during a meeting with Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet for Finance and Economic Development, Siazongo Siakalenge at Cabinet Office, where discussions with regard to the export of maize from Zambia to Kenya were held.

Mr Kinoti explained that the Kenyan government has tasked the private sector to facilitate maize imports, with the government maintaining a regulatory and facilitative role.

Mr Kinoti emphasised that Baita Trading is ready to off-take the available maize in Zambia, starting with an immediate shipment of 10.8 million bags, with a further 3 million bags expected to be required thereafter.

Speaking at the same event, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet for Finance and Economic Development, Siazongo Siakalenge said Zambia has sufficient maize stock to meet Kenya’s demand.

Dr Siakalenge expressed Zambia’s readiness to facilitate exports to the East African country once the two sides conclude discussions on the terms of trade.

He said Zambia currently has about 5.1 million metric tonnes of maize, in addition to the more than 1.6 million metric tonnes carried over from last year.

Dr Siakalenge said this demonstrates that Zambia has adequate stock to support the regional market, including Kenya, which is seeking to import large quantities of maize.