Kenya to allow duty-free import of 540,000 T of maize – finance minister

NAIROBI, Could 21 (Reuters) – Kenya’s has authorised the importation of 540,000 tonnes of maize responsibility-totally free until finally August to forestall a looming shortfall, the finance minister claimed.

The East African country, which only permits maize imports in exclusive conditions, is struggling with an acute drought in some parts.

About 3.5 million people today in Kenya will need food items support, in accordance to the United Nations Business office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

“In consequence of the notification of an impending maize crisis in the state … a Waiver of Import Duty has been granted for the importation of not extra than 540,000 metric tonnes of white nongenetically-modified organism (non-GMO) maize grain,” Finance Minister Ukur Yatani explained in a legal discover on Friday.

Kenya’s United Grain Millers Association explained earlier this thirty day period the region experienced previously run out of reserves of maize – its staple – because of to the drought.

The association requested the government to let millers to import 360,000 tonnes of the grain responsibility-free, expressing rates experienced surged from all over 2,800 shillings ($24.07)for every 90 kg bag to 4,500 shillings due to the fact December.

($1 = 116.3500 Kenyan shillings)

(Reporting by George Obulutsa Modifying by Andrew Heavens)

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