State to import 720,000 bags of maize to boost depleting supplies

                       Maize been dried                  PHOTO/STANDARD

Kenya: Government has initiated negotiations with to neighbouring countries to import 720,000 bags maize to boost local supply. This is as the country reels from poor harvests following reduced rains.

Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei over the weekend confirmed that Government has kicked off the process to import more maize from the region, over and above sourcing from local sources. “We are in talks with regional governments to allow us import more maize. Last week, we had a meeting with Tanzanian ambassador to Kenya and the negotiations are progressing well,” said Koskei.

Duty free maize

Kenya’s facing challenges in terms of imports from Tanzania as the country has been reluctant to allow other countries import maize.  In an interview over the weekend after touring macadamia and nuts factories in Murang’a and Kiambu counties respectively, Koskei explained that in addition to cross border trade, Government will further import duty free maize from Comesa countries. Koskei said the country will have a deficit of 720,000 bags by next month. Koskei said the Government, even as it continues importing mazie, will also soon release 500,000 bags of the country’s staple food into the market from the national strategic grain reserves,  currently under the management of the National Cereals and Produce Board.

“The national strategic grain reserve has 3.1 million bags of maize. We will release some soon and the restock the reserve as from July when harvest from the South Rift kicks off,” he said. “As from July, we will buy more than a million bags from farmers once harvest kicks off in South Rift next month.” 

Millers last week claimed that the country is already in a crisis. This is as the local supply dwindles and the Government shows unwillingness to release more maize from the national strategic grain reserve to help in stabilising prices, which have already started going up. A fortnight ago, millers increased price of a 2kg maize flour packet to an average of Sh118 from Sh110 for the brands. Cereals and Millers Association Chairman Diamond Lalji, said farmers are hoarding maize produce anticipating high prices thus prompting millers to rely on imports from Tanzania and Uganda.

 “Currently, we do not have enough stocks in our warehouses.  The supply we are procuring from the neighbouring countries and some local segments is not enough,” said Lalji recently in a phone interview. “This has equally affected our supplies to the local retail outlets and supermarkets and thus triggering high prices of flour.”

A 90kg maize bag currently costs Sh3,450 up from between Sh2,800 and Sh3, 000 a month ago. Koskei warned traders and farmers against hoarding maize, saying this might lead to loss of market as imports dominate the market.

Traders, Koskei said, are hoarding more than 1.5 million bags of maize.