Local firms win Ksh 326M deal to supply equipment to DRC

Local firms have won a Ksh 326 million deal to supply agricultural machinery and equipment to 22 small and micro agricultural enterprises in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Among the machinery to be supplied include grain cleaners, dryers, seed processors, packaging machines, graders, quality testing equipment and post-harvest solutions.

Eastern Africa Grain Council Executive Director Gerald Masila says the deal will increase intra-regional trade and bring more players in the agriculture value chain.

The DRC is the sixth largest export destination for Kenyan exports with trade between the two countries valued at more than 100 billion shillings annually.

Traders from the DRC say the deal will lower the cost of production as agricultural harvest is taken to the neighboring Uganda and Zambia for storage and processing before being shipped back increasing the cost of foodstuff.

The daily flights between Nairobi and Kinshasa as well as technology exchange are the main drivers of trade between Kenya and DRC.