Low prices and pests push maize farmers into other ventures

Maize farmers in Weiwei, West Pokot County sort out the best quality maize for shelling at the at the Weiwei Seed Processing Plant. [Photo:Michael Ollinga/Standard]

Kenya’s perennial maize shortage crisis may deepen as farmers in the North Rift, the country’s grain basket, shift to other more profitable ventures.

As the country struggles with persistent maize shortage and consequent high prices of unga, farmers are moving away from production of this crop due to poor returns amid cheap imports.