The Ministry of Trade has started issuing maize export licenses in order to offload excess stock of maize from last year’s harvest.

A statement signed by the Ministry’s principal secretary Christina Zakeyo, the decision will also help to create storage space for this year’s maize harvest.

Zakeyu says the maize export licenses will only be issued to exporters with proof of verifiable maize stocks from the previous agricultural season.

She added that the licenses to be granted will have a validity period of three months from the date of issue and that the exporter will be required to undertake a commitment to inform the ministry about the export proceeds received after 180 days from the date of export.

Last week, the ministry of agriculture announced that the first crop harvest estimates for this year is 4.3 million metric tons of maize which has surpassed the projected harvest which was about 3 million metric tons of maize.

Zakeyu has however assured the public that exportation of maize will not affect the country’s food security as the country is expecting bumper yields.