Maize Prices Slightly Drop As Framers Start To Harvest

By Getrude Mathayo / Published July 31, 2023 | 2:02 pm

The price of maize flour has reduced in most parts of the country, especially in the Western region. Farmers from the Western region have started harvesting, The 2kg container of maize which was retailing at 200 shillings three weeks ago is now selling at between 150 shillings and 180 shillings in most parts of the region.

In Kakamega, Bungoma, and Busia counties, the prices of maize have already drastically dropped. The harvesting season has already kicked off in the said regions. In Kakamega, a 90-kilogram bag of maize is retailing at 6000 shillings.

In Bungoma, Bumula, and Kandunyi the price of a 90-kilogram bag of maize has also reduced dramatically. A 2-kilogram container of maize is retailing at 160 to 140 shillings from 200 shillings.

The prices are expected to drop in other parts of the county, once farmers start harvesting the crop in the next couple of weeks.

The Kenyan government is also planning to import about 900,000 tonnes of duty-free white maize by August 2023 in a bid to lower prices and ease the high cost of living.

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, barely one-third of the desired imports had landed in the country by the end of June, ahead of the closure of the duty-free import window in August.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development reported the importation of a mere 259,470 tonnes of maize, which represents 29 percent of expected imports between February and the end of June.

However, the bulk of imports has come from the region as opposed to being sourced from outside the East African Community and COMESA as earlier expected.

“All imports (in June) were from East Africa Community countries, mostly Tanzania. According to the Kenya Grain Millers Association, the reduced imports are due to a generally tight global market, coupled with reduced local demand which is attributed to lower purchasing power,” the ministry said in its latest food and nutrition security bulletin.