Lusaka — Kenya intends to turn to Zambia to plug shortfalls in the local maize supply. Zambian minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Dr Brian Chituwo said Kenya was set to purchase 100, 000 metric tonnes of maize from his country.

Dr Chituwo told state-owned Zambia Daily Mail that the southern African country had received inquiries from Kenya about the maize purchase, adding that his government was currently working out the pricing modalities and measures to facilitate the export of the 100, 000 metric tonnes.

"I have asked the FRA (government Food Reserve Agency) to work out the price mechanism because if they import grain in bulk there are many issues to take into consideration including the modalities to ship this commodity," he said.

Zambia's total maize production for the 2008/2009 agriculture season is about 1.9 million metric tonnes against a total maize national requirement of about 1.7 metric tonnes, leaving the country with a surplus of 203,271 metric tonnes.

"In light of the surplus reflected in the food balance sheet, the government is ready to review the issue of maize exports," Dr Chitowu had announced earlier this year.