Kenya is ready to increase maize imports from Uganda as the country confronts a looming grain shortage, but the government wants tighter controls on grain drying and aflatoxin contamination.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said Uganda was well positioned to supply part of Kenya’s maize requirements as the two countries seek to expand agricultural trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
However, he said increased trade must be accompanied by stronger post-harvest handling to ensure grain entering Kenya meets food safety standards.
The move comes as drought and poor crop performance threaten Kenya’s maize supplies. The country could require significant imports after dry conditions damaged large areas in some of the major grain-producing zones.
The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that Kenya faces a maize deficit of about 2.2 million tonnes this year.
For Uganda, increased exports could provide farmers with a ready market, but rising Kenyan demand has also put pressure on supplies and prices in some Ugandan markets.
Mr Kagwe said better drying and storage would benefit both countries by opening markets for Ugandan farmers while protecting Kenyan consumers from contaminated grain.
The proposed expansion of cross-border trade therefore presents an opportunity for regional food security, but food safety remains a key condition.
Kenya’s reliance on imports also highlights the vulnerability of the country’s food system to drought and declining domestic production.
