Supply of maize in Kenya has stabilized resulting to a drop in prices. Kipng’etich Mutai, chairman of the Grain Belt Millers Association confirmed the report and said the stabilisation follows the harvest in parts of Western Kenya and arrival of cheap produce from neighbouring countries.
The maize prices are set to decline from the current Sh5,800 per 90kg bag after the harvest of the crop in South Rift, Nyanza and Western and imports from Tanzania and Zambia. The ongoing rains in several parts of the country however, he added, were interrupting the smooth flow of maize from harvest zones to milling plants.
“We’re currently receiving maize from Narok, Bomet and other parts of South Rift. The harvest of the crop in Nyanza and former Western Province has boosted our operations. But the millers still face challenges implementing the maize subsidy programme as supermarkets delay payments. The 45-day credit period by supermarkets needs to be reduced to facilitate cash flow to enable millers purchase more maize and increase crushing capacity to support steady flow of the low cost flour,” said Mr. Kipng’etich.
Maize price
Agriculture Principal Secretary Francis Owino said Sh160.9 million has been processed for the Sh325 million invoices from 128 millers under the subsidy programme. About 3.2 million kilos of maize flour has been supplied to the market under the subsidy.
In the programme, a 2kg packet of maize is retailing at Sh100 instead of the Sh203 market price. Maize prices have declined from Sh6,000 to Sh5,600 in Eldoret. The price of the produce has reduced from Sh5,900 to Sh5,400 in Kisumu and Sh5,600 down from Sh5,900 in Nakuru.
“The maize prices are expected to decline further due to harvest of alternative food crops and the impending harvest of the crop in parts of the region,” said Moses Kiptoo, a maize trader in Eldoret.
