Tanzania is set to sell neighboring Kenya one million tons of maize to help tie-up severe food shortage faced by the latter. The contracted grains will have to be delivered in one year’s time. Kenya is facing an acute shortage of food items. The onset of the present political uncertainly triggered by the arrest of the former finance minister and the difference of opinion between President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto has further precipitated the political situation, which can have an adverse effect in the economic front as well.
It is reported that officials from Tanzania and Kenya will meet next week to discuss the details of the supply schedule. The cereals board of Tanzania will be the monitoring authority for executing the project. The first consignment of about 20,000 tons would reach Kenya by next month. The two countries have agreed on prices but did not reveal the details.Recently, there was a meeting between Tanzanian President John Magufuli and his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta in Dar es Salaam this month to finalize the deal, which was necessitated by severe drought in parts of Kenya, affecting the production of maize, a staple crop.
