South African maize from genetically modified (GM) crops is completely safe for human and animal consumption, an independent biotechnology consultant Dr Wynand van der Walt said on Monday.

He was responding to comments by the African Centre for Biosafety (ACB) that South Africa had “dumped” GM maize on African markets, including Kenya, Mozambique and Swaziland.

“It is a pity that repeated media releases by ACB ignore basic facts and wallow in distorted information.

“Both South Africa and Kenya followed exactly the procedural requirements under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the allegation that our maize is being dumped on African markets contrary to Protocol rules, is a blatant lie.”

Van der Walt said South African regulatory authorities had a working relationship with their counterparts in Swaziland and there was “no dumping”.

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High maize prices are projected to hold firm in regional markets because of poor production and disruptions in trade flow patterns, a survey by a UN agency shows.

Maize prices remain high across the entire East Africa region despite the entry of initial batches of fresh stocks from the long-rains season, signalling prolonged anguish for households that have witnessed unusually high prices of the commodity since 2007.

“In general, the region continues to experience above-average cereal prices, above the pre-crisis level of June 2007 by a range that goes from 50 to 70 percent on average,” the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said.

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Maputo — The Zambezi Valley Planning Office (GPZ) intends to invest 50 million US dollars in building three grain processing plants in the central Mozambican provinces of Zambezia, Manica and Tete.

GPZ general director Sergio Vieira told reporters that work on one of the factories will begin this year in the Tete district of Angonia, and will have the capacity to process about 25,000 tonnes of maize a year.

Angonia, and the neighbouring district of Tsangano, are the main producers of maize and wheat in the province. But due to lack of processing facilities, and the small size of the immediate market, peasants sell much of this maize over the border in Malawi.

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Nairobi — Price reduction of maize will depend on Kenya enjoying a good harvest in the current crop season, millers said Wednesday.

Cereal Millers Association chairman Diamond Lalji said the prices have currently stabilised at around Sh80 per two kilogram packet of maize flour. “This is as a result of availability and adequate supplies of maize through importation.” Mr Lalji regretted that the rains were not favourable in most of the country’s grain growing areas.

In Transnzoia, the country’s grain basket, the rains are reported to be good, in Eldoret (average) while other areas were below average, Mr Lalji said.

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The East African Grain Council has launched the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) in Kenya that will cut out exploitative middlemen and unlock the commercial potential of farming.

The system allows farmers and traders to deposit maize at a certified warehouse during the months of December to March and obtain a warehouse receipt.

The move means that farmers can now use the receipt to obtain money from Equity Bank while awaiting sale of their stored produce at the most profitable time.

Its proponents forecast that the move will increase maize production, and that of other cereals, by as much as of 300% and comes as Kenya reels from an acute grain shortage accentuated by an undeveloped market and political crisis. The warehouse receipts form the country’s first organised commodity market.