90-Kg Bag Of Dry Maize Is Retailing At 2400 Shillings

By Getrude Matayo

In most parts of the country, a 90-kilogram bag of dry maize is retailing at 2400 shillings. The dropping of price has been attributed to more maize on the Kenyan market.

A 2-kilogram of dry maize is currently retailing between 60 and 70 shillings down from 80 shillings in the month of July.

In a statement that was issued on Monday on food security, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure a 90-kilogram bag of maize in the market sells for not less than 2,500 shillings.

According to President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Covid-19 pandemic posed challenges to agriculture-based livelihoods and to food security. He said mitigation measures were undertaken by stakeholders and availability, access, and affordability were attained

“The recommended minimum maize selling price by farmers is to be Sh2, 500 per 90kg bag, and the ministry is required to enforce these prices,” the President said.

The price directive was issued after Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya said in May the government will no longer be in the business of directly setting maize prices, buying or distributing maize. He said the prices would be determined by market forces.

Removal of the government’s major role as part of the reforms in the maize subsector in which the Strategic Food Reserve was disbanded.

The CS had said instead, the ministry will focus on creating an enabling environment for the private sector to make and execute commercial decisions.

In May, Agriculture Peter Munya said the government will no longer directly set maize prices, nor buy and distribute maize. He said that prices will be determined by the market forces.