If you ask me – Kenya is ripe for a formal Futures and Commodities Market/Exchange.
It was reported (and I paraphrase), that we have had a 561% increase in milk production since 2003 – exponential growth! The milk handling agencies are hard pressed as to what to do with all this milk ( Duh – seriously!!!!!) There is talk of an expected bumper harvest in Eastern Kenya (note that this is an area that is usually drought- stricken, but thanks to donor seed provision programs, people are actually talking about bumper harvests), prices of food are falling due to surplus in markets and farmers are complaining of losses……
Flip- side: People are dying of hunger in some areas in Kenya.
Where is the balance? Isn’t it about time we had a Commodities market in Kenya? I believe so….
For those that know I am out of Financial Markets for a minute working on something that is near and dear to my heart. For those that do not know – this post here will help shed light on that….
I have put Margin Analysis, trading account structuring, Month End Close Cycles, Reconciliation and what not on hold for the minute I am “away” from financial markets – for now! I know I will work in Financial Markets sometime soon or in the future in some capacity, because after all, I have a flair for (I am just saying lol! :D), but my attention right now is focussed elsewhere and I intend to give that 110%, heart and soul.
Nway – that being said – I find it entirely difficult to dis-engage myself from what is going on in markets, or my friends make it difficult for me to do so hahaha! Someone ( I will not mention names :-)), told me I have 2 options concerning my “relationship” with markets – either get a restraining order or get married to them…..I chose neither and instead decided I will have an “affair” with markets ( NYSE, Futures, Commodities and Derivatives et al) and hope “my guy” ( what I am currently immersed in) , doesn’t get jealous.
If you are a proactive mind out there that believes we can get to getting to a commodities market – please begin the “Think- Tanking” Process and holla at me to join you. Seriously! I know for a fact that I do have something significant I can contribute towards that end….
There is not a good reason for having such losses and food asymmetry in the country when we can manage our resources, potentially very effectively with a commodities market.
Please take a minute to read my blog post on Futures Markets in Africa and subsequent comments and I think a lot of us think its about time – now for some action!
It is good to have intelligent people like you to enlighten people (in diaspora) on what is actually going on with our good old country. I heard about the milk issue but I doubted my sources. Hearing it from you is a confirmation of those rumors to be true.
Actually – I did some of my best “news” on Kenya while I was in Diaspora 🙂 . I find that when I was out there i was more concerned with what was going on and now that I am actually here – I am immersed in what is actually happening. Thanks for your thoughts though…
Hallo Cynthia,
Thank you for your piece “Futures/ Commodity Markets in Africa – Is there a future for?”
It is quite informative.
Please inbox me at @hotmail.com. I require your assistance in realising this goal.
Kind regards
Karanja – Lets talk off the blog. I have sent you some stuff on your hotmail. Thanks again!
love the commodities market and very interested.good to brainstorm on it.if you are interested in a group for this count me in.
[…] there with the most prominent financial bloggers in Kenya among them being Bankelele, Kainvestor, The Way I see it and SokoAnalyst . But I still hope to see more bloggers on the financial sector front given the […]
[…] there with the most prominent financial bloggers in Kenya among them being Bankelele, Kainvestor, The Way I see it and SokoAnalyst . But I still hope to see more bloggers on the financial sector front given the […]
I am doing a MBA project and was thinking of derivatives in the oil industry in Kenya. but as it is there is no derivatives market in Kenya and i really need help coz I have great interest in this topic. assist
Pauline – I will email you 🙂
hi, am writting my llb research paper on assessing the viability of a futures commodity market in kenya. if you could please help me with materials on regulation of futures markets in other jurisdictions would surely appreciate it
Hi – thanks for stopping by….I have your email add and will contact you in a few days and see whats what 🙂
Dear Cynthia
I’m working my MSC on Prospects and challenges of introducing derivative contract in Ethiiopian Commodity Exchange, and I want u to help me with Materials which contain experiance of different couontries.
Thanks in advance
Hi, Will contact you via email
Cynthia and Jacob, please get in touch via email. I am keen on this from academia and research standpoint and public policy. I watched Elen speak, heard others talk and my view is for a Africa, a commodities and futures exchange is not an option, rather a must have to stabilize food production issues. I also see a need for the best brains and commitment to unblind the policy markers. To this line Jacob, you have my accolades.
Hi Cynthia
I a m currently doing my PHD in Women entrepreneurs in Africa can you kindly email me so taht we can keep in touch throuhgh email. Ive also got my own venture I am undertaking side by side with my studies. For further discussions email me on ….. I really need your help in some data I require from that region on women entrepreneurs.
Regards
Celestine
Cynthia, kindly get in touch concerning the recent EoI by the CMA in setting up a Futures Exchange in Kenya.
Thank you,
Kim
I can help you in research and data analysis in regard to markets. I have extensive knowledge on research activities and academic work.
Hello, might be late on response but am researching on derivative markets regulation, i am commodity trader in Kenya and would love to meet like minded individuals concerning derivative mkts……ideas urgently needed.
Wambua – Please see your email. Regards!
Hi am doing a research on financial risk management and any info on development of a derivatives market in Kenya will be useful. There was reports that we would have one by 2010….we need to make it happen. Thanks for this blog.
Kendi – Will email you
Hi Cynthia
My only regeret is that i ve only seen this today. However, i ve been thinking deeply of establishing a commondities exchange market and even having a commondities index being calculated and made public every new day. Can CMA and other players be of help? Some radio stations shed light on commondity prices in various markets in kenya but little attention is paid to this area.
How far have oyu gone with this so far? Can we make it a project? I am sure NCST will be interested with this.
Alex – well, much can be done, because, as yet, there is little evident progress on this – will email you. Thanks!
cynthia,
comendable spark you have started here.i recently cae across an NGO running a co -sponsorship programme which can link the fast growing east africa membership.I have been a farmer in the past and encountered the volatile farm produce marke which is sadly dominated by brokers.i therefore want to contribute my angle to this.kindly shae some information that you have thats diffrent from the limited KACEwebsite.thanks in advance.
Fred
Hi Cynthia, currentry am doing my PhD and i am researching on commodity exchange in kenya, especially with coffee which,. for along time was the backbone of kenyan economy. Thanks for addressing this topic. Please help me with relevant information to enrich my research,
i believe the commodities market is amn example of how left behind we are in terms of financial development in this country of ours. that said i think its about to change seeing that a forum like this exists.
Hey all, i think you should take a look at this article 🙂 we are getting a commodities exchange by end of year!
http://allafrica.com/stories/201301311528.html
Hi Cynthia,
I like the article shame i came across it a little bit late. Commodity market trading is a good venture especially with paper money (Weak US currency sparking currency wars) loosing value at a fast pace more so where you are (US I believe) and the effect is spreading across. I have some interesting ideas i could share with someone like minded and maybe a JV partnership can be forthcoming.
Do get in touch
Regards, james
Hi Cynthia, If small scale farmers and miners are to get a fair price then lets talk about establishing pricing mechanisms that reward the little people, but as I see it large traders and institutions will be the only beneficiaries of any commodity scheme established in Kenya.