Kenya plans to import 5.5 million bags of yellow maize – most likely from Brazil – has raised concerns as government data show maize balance sheet in August 2024 shows a surplus of about 31.07 million 50 kilogramme bags.

The data, according to the ministry of agriculture and strategic grain reserves board, is based on carryover stocks of 36.6 million bags and estimated 1.08 million 50 kilogramme bags as forecast imports from May.

Despite the positive outlook, Kenya plans to gazette a 50 per cent duty waiver for the importation of 5.5 million bags of yellow maize over a one-year period. In a statement to media houses, Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said that the initiative would be carried out by a vetted list of qualified animal feed millers with sufficient capacity.

“The objective is to reduce pressure on local white maize stocks by shifting animal feed millers to yellow maize,” he added.

The cabinet secretary further said that the move would also allow millers focused on human consumption to access available maize at fairer prices, ultimately leading to reduced production costs and more stable unga prices for consumers.

“The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development notes the growing competition between animal feed millers and maize millers for human consumption over the limited maize grain stocks available in the country. As a result of this increasing demand, the price of a 90-kilogramme bag of maize has risen by approximately 26 percent compared to three months ago,” Kagwe noted.

The upward trend in maize prices has directly impacted the cost of production, prompting millers to pass the increased costs onto consumers through higher prices of maize flour (unga).

Looking ahead, Kagwe urged farmers to consider the cultivation of yellow maize to meet the domestic demand of over 1 million metric tonnes required annually by the animal feed industry.

He noted that this shift would help reduce dependency on imports and contribute positively to the economy.

Additionally, CS Kagwe said that the government would release regular maize from the National Strategic Food Reserve to millers producing maize flour for human consumption. This intervention aims to cushion the wananchi from the impact of soaring unga prices.

• A Tell media / KNA report / By Wangari Ndirangu