BUMPER harvests of maize and beans in East Africa this season will keep prices low on the local and regional markets, a regional commodity-monitoring agency has said.

In Kampala markets, maize prices have dropped to sh240 a kilogramme from sh400 in recent weeks.

According to the Regional Agriculture Trade Intelligence Network, regional and local maize prices will drop to their lowest due to bumper harvests in all the three East African countries. Over 150,000 metric tonnes of maize could be available for export.

Private traders have started selling their maize to neighbouring Kenya, Zambia and Malawi.

Prices are expected to slump further after the Tanzanian government offered 20,000 metric tonnes of maize for sale from its strategic grain reserve.

On the regional market, Uganda had offered four lots of 20,000 metric tonnes (Grade One Maize) at $160 (sh292,800) per tonne. Kenya抯 offer of Grade Two Maize was 20 lots of 100,000 metric tonnes at $195 (sh356,850) per tonne.

Kenya farmer associations and groups are appealing to their government to start purchasing their maize now when the prices are still better.

Tanzania抯 good maize production from the southern highlands from the just-concluded long rains remains a major boost for the region抯 food security.

揟he commodity supply has been good this week but the demand is low,?a trader in Kampala said.