Kenya imported over 5 million bags of maize in the last three months
Soko Directory Team
The Ministry of Agriculture announced that 5,084,283 bags (equivalent to 457.59 thousand tonnes) of maize has been imported in the last three months to stabilize the flour supply in the market.
“Maize imported from various countries to date stand at 5,084,283 bags,” said director of crops in the Ministry of Agriculture Johnson Irungu.
“Though production is below expectation, food supplies have improved at household level and at the market outlets. Prices of major staples such as maize, beans, Irish potatoes and fresh vegetable though relatively high are on a downward trend,” he said.
In comparison, maize imports in 2015 and 2016 settled at 480.1 and 148.6 thousand tonnes, respectively, with 2017 on course to record largest imports in the last five years.
In addition, maize stocks end July stood at 5.6Mn bags with farmers, traders and millers holding 3.00Mn, 1.40Mn and 1.20Mn bags, respectively.
