Posted on January, 31, 2019 at 09:16 am
By GERALD ANDAE
Reduced maize imports from Uganda where stocks have been dwindling have seen the price of local maize rise by Sh400 a bag.
A 90-kilogramme bag is going for Sh1,800, up from Sh1,400 two months ago when Kenya witnessed increased imports from Kampala.
Eastern African Grain Council said the imports had dropped because the crop from the previous season is getting exhausted.
“The country is now preparing to harvest the next crop but currently the imports have come down,” said executive director Gerald Masila.
Cereal Growers Association, however, says the increment is insignificant as farmers cannot break even at that price.
Maize imports from Uganda grew sharply last year after the volumes went down significantly in 2017 as a result of a shortage in the landlocked nation.
Millers had been relying on Kampala imports following a local supply deficit as Kenyan farmers held on to the produce hoping to get a good price from the government.
National Cereals and Produce Board started purchasing maize last week after a long delay due to a lack of funds.
The NCPB has capped the purchase of maize at 400 bags worth Sh1 million as the government moves to tame traders and large landholders accused of abusing the window at the expense of small-scale farmers.
According to the government, any registered farmer with more than 400 bags must be cleared by the Strategic Food Reserve.
Source: Business Daily