Households to Dig Deeper into Pockets for Wheat Products this Christmas

Kenyan households will be forced to dig deeper into their pockets to be able to enjoy wheat products this festive season due to an increase in Wheat prices.

The increase on wheat prices is as a result of increased international prices that have on a steady rise since August thus affecting the local prices too.

A tonne of wheat has gone up from 22,440 shillings in August to current 27,540 shillings on account of fewer supplies from Russia, which is placing a ban on export to protect its citizens against high prices.

Consumer prices of wheat flour have so far shot to a high of 122 shillings for a two-kilogram packet from 112 shillings in August.

Russia is one of the leading exporters of wheat internationally and to Kenya.

The cost of clearing the produce, which includes transport from the port of Mombasa to Nairobi has pushed the price to 3,200 shillings for a 90-kilogram bag from a low of 2,600 shillings.

However, there has only been a marginal jump in consumer prices due to stiff competition brought by new players in the market,

Wheat production is expected to improve this year following good weather that boosted output across the growing region.

Kenya is a net importer of wheat, bringing in two-thirds of its requirement to meet the annual consumption of 900,000 tonnes against the annual local production of 350,000 tonnes.