Kenya is yet to finalise the deal to have large scale farmers grow maize in Zambia.
In March, Kenya signed a deal with Zambia to secure 49,000 acres of land for large-scale growing of maize in the Southern African nation.
While signing the deal, Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi said Zambia has more fertile soil and favourable weather conditions and this pushed the government to seek land to grow maize to feed Kenyans.
The deal would see large-scale farmers plant maize in Zambia and then export the commodity to the country.
The CS said the move will help in achieving food security by allowing Kenyan farmers to get permits to practice farming in Zambia and export the food to Kenya.
“The government will do everything possible to bring down the cost of food by adopting creative measures like such collaborations. I am happy that the government of Zambia is willing to offer Kenyan farmers farm blocks where they can produce food for export markets,” Linturi had said.
“We have agreed to allow Kenyan farmers to start large-scale farming in Zambia and export their harvests to Kenya. We have one of the best farms and weather in Zambia which is favourable for farming and it will be beneficial to Kenyans,” Zambian Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo said while signing the deal.
Linturi also said Kenya would be importing 10 million bags of maize from Zambia in the next four months.
But this may not happen as Zambian Finance Minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane said they will not be exporting maize to Kenya this season due to a deficit.
The minister who spoke in an interview with regional paper on the side-lines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings in Washington DC, said Zambia will instead be importing maize to supplement the shortfalls occasioned by a poor harvest last season.
This sparked a debate among Kenyans on whether the government is keen to end the looming maize shortage that will help bring down the cost of unga. The flour is currently selling at between Sh190 and Sh230 per two-kilo packet.
More than one month down the line, the CS is yet to divulge more information about the intended maize deal between the two governments.
Information as to how Kenyan government wants to grow maize in Zambia as part of taming the perennial maize shortage in the country is still scant, even as interested farmers demand full disclosure to enable them make informed investment decision.
By Thursday, the CS had not commented on the issue and when we contacted, Agriculture PS Kello Harsama said only his boss can comment on the matter.
Harsama however blamed the current situation on a global maize shortage, adding that in Africa, only South Africa has maize stocks which has triggered stiff competition by countries also grappling with the dwindling food reserves.
He said maize is not available in traditional import supply countries like Tanzania, Malawi and Uganda and that the commodity is only available in South Africa.
“There is a scramble for maize in SA because currently there is a scarcity of maize in the international market. What is available is expensive with a 90kg bag selling between Sh5,400 and Sh6,000,” Harsama said.
The PS said climate change problems like drought has forced the government to think outside the box.
-Edited by SKanyara