Alliance for Science
Kenya is set to import 4 million bags of maize as the country loses its grain reserves to aflatoxin, a toxin caused by mold.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya told the Senate Committee for Agriculture that maize in the country’s Strategic Grain Reserves is unfit for human consumption as it has been contaminated by aflatoxin, which is known to cause cancer and other health problems.
The loss comes when the country is still struggling with a locust invasion and the effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic, both of which have adversely affected the country’s food chain as markets are closed and movement remains restricted in some counties.
“The government is trying to ensure the basic commodities are available for everyone, and hence the need to import maize, which is a staple food in the country,” Munya said. “The maize in the government stores will not be sufficient for a longer period should the pandemic push further.”
In response, Kenya plans to import 2 million bags of white maize for human consumption and an additional 2 million bags of yellow maize for animal feed between end of June and mid-July.
FoodWorld 