The government of Kenya has announced its support for local farmers to grow yellow maize as it pushes to realize food security and curb the rising cost of animal feeds.
Principal Secretary, State Department for Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation, Mr. Harry Kimtai confirmed the report and said the government was working on a policy framework that will curb reliance on imports. According to the PS high cost of imported yellow maize has resulted to operation by processors to be at 40%.
“The price of animal feeds has shot up to historic levels. A long term measure to curb the rising cost is to put in place a framework that will encourage processors contract local farmers to supply the raw material,” The Principal Secretary added.
Advantages of yellow maize
The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) has developed a drought-resistant variety of the yellow maize seed for distribution to farmers. Locally grown yellow maize could also be used by millers to blend flour meant for human consumption. Kenyans have for a long time frowned upon yellow maize considering that it is mostly imported as famine relief food and its use as livestock feed in countries of origin.
Kimtai said yellow maize contains higher levels of lutein, carotenoids and vitamin A whose deficiency among children in Africa may result in illness, blindness and even death.
it’s an informative and enlightening article for not only indigenous maize growers but also for foreign maize exporters to Africa. looking forward to read such more valuable writings from the author
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