Maize crisis as Tanzania freezes export permits for Kenyan traders.
Kenyan traders have reported a maize crisis as Tanzania freezes export permits.
Millers and manufacturers have revealed that the country stopped issuing permits last week causing a inconvenience of the supply locally.
Due to the shortage of exports, maize prices are on the hike like never before.
United grain millers stated,”We have been unable to get maize from Tanzania since last week after the country stopped issuing export permits to traders with the cutting off of stocks from Tanzania expected to push up the cost of flour.”
Also read Details on how Kenya exports Miraa worth 220 Millions to Somalia in Four days
For the past two years, Tanzania has been the leading Maize supplier to Kenya since the regime of the late president John Pombe Magufuli.
Reports are indicating that Tanzania is restricting exports due to poor harvests marked in the last season.
Kenya Bereau of standards has also reported a decline in the amount of Maize that is coming from the Namanga border.
KEBS said,”We have witnessed a significant decline in maize coming in from Tanzania; on average we are now getting 10 trucks from a high of 80 trucks previously.”
This crisis has forced Kenya to get a back up stock from Zambia, to compensate for the deficit from Tanzania. Other suppliers are Uganda and South Sudan although their prices are on the high end.
According to Business daily, the deficit will push the maize prices from Ksh.5400 per 90kg bag to ksh.5900 per 90kg bag.