Costly Animal Feeds Likely to Hurt Farmers

The prices of animal feeds have continued to skyrocket, with a 70 kg bag of layers mash retailing at 4,500 shillings from 3,800 shillings in April. Chick mash is at the same time going for 4,940 shillings from 4,200 shillings.

The price upsurge will consequently be passed to consumers through increased animal product prices. This means that consumers will have to pay more for products such as egg which has already gone through the roof.

For instance, a tray of eggs is currently retailing between 420 shillings and 450 shillings, increasing from 360 shillings three weeks ago. The tax Nairobi imposed on eggs from Uganda was blamed for this price increase. The prices are likely to continue with their upward trend due to costly feeds, in farmers’ bid to cut losses, given that feed accounts for 70 percent of the cost of production of eggs.

With the animal products price increase, consumers will have to ration consumption of these products and go for other alternatives. At the same time, farmers will have to halt businesses or reduce their flock to sustain the production costs.

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Statistics from Tegemeo Institute suggest that the cost of feeds directly impacts the competitiveness of the livestock value chain.

The dairy meal prices have also increased to 2,800 shillings from 2,500 shillings. Last year, the ministry of agriculture proposed a duty-free waiver for raw materials to cushion farmers from the high cost of feeds, which saw consumers spend more on food.

The government also licensed the importation of 10 million duty-free bags of yellow maize, but no single bag has landed in the country. The import has been delayed due to fears about the safety of the commodity following its 2012 ban.

Association of Kenya Feed Manufacturers Secretary-general Martin Kinoti noted that this year’s feed situation is worse than last year.