September 10, 2007

 

COMESA to set uniform quality standard on corn

 

 

A standardised quality on corn is expected to be set up in the Common Market for East and South Africa (COMESA) to facilitate corn export in the region, an official has said.

 

Ugandan State Minister for Industry Ephraim Kamuntu saiwas in a regional consultative meeting said issues related to standards and trade should be handled with utmost consideration by all COMESA partners, which would help them compete better even at the international market.

 

Corn is an important crop for all the people of East and Southern Africa, however, demand is characterised by deficits and surpluses. COMESA produces 22 to 23 million tones of corn annually. Of this 18 million tones are consumed with a surplus of 4 million tonnes. However, an estimated 2 million tones of corn is imported.

 

The absence of a uniform quality standard has been one of the technical barriers hampering the export of corn, according to the report.

 

Stephen Kauri Njukia, a commodity specialist with the Regional Agricultural Trade Expansion Support Program (RATES), said that variation in standards has hindered the movement of corn from the areas where it's in plenty to areas in shortage.

 

Despite the grain's abundance in nearby countries, importing is expensive due to poor infrastructures.

 

The two regional blocs of East African Community (EAC) and COMESA have joined efforts to harmonize into a single standard to rectify the situation. Initially, EAC had specific standards used by traders but they were not able to supply countries in COMESA because of the variation in standards.

 

Njukia said EAC countries were able to trade amongst each other but some COMESA member countries could not. This is the reason why a deficit in Zambia and Zimbabwe is prevalent, he said.

 

However, Njukia said having a uniform standard would not mean a fixed price as it will be determined by market forces in respective countries.

 

The corn standards agreed on are grade 1 and 2, depending on the nutritional value.

 

Ethiopia is the largest producer in the region, followed by Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia. Other producers include Uganda, Zimbabwe, Burundi and Rwanda among others.

 

Meanwhile, dealers in corn have welcomed the initiative saying it was long over due.