- Maize farmers in the North Rift region noted prices ranged from KSh 2,200 to KSh 2,700 for a 90kg bag, down from KSh 4,000
- Kiptoo Cheruiyot, a farmer in Nandi, resorted to hoarding his produce until the prices went up as he contemplated quitting maize farming
- Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) director Kipkorir Menjo said farmers will sell their maize after drying and the prices stabilise
TUKO.co.ke journalist Japhet Ruto has over eight years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting and offers profound insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.
Kenyan maize farmers are counting losses over poor prices amid a bumper harvest.
Source: Getty Images
What are maize prices in Kenya?
Farmers in the North Rift region, dubbed as Kenya’s bread basket, noted prices ranged from KSh 2,200 to KSh 2,700 for a 90kg bag, down from KSh 4,000.
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Kiptoo Cheruiyot, a maize farmer in Nandi, has resorted to hoarding his produce until the prices go up. He stressed that he was contemplating quitting maize farming to focus on other crops.
“This price drop is disappointing because it not only undermines our hard work and investment but also threatens our livelihoods. The cost of inputs like fertilizer, seeds, and labour hasn’t decreased, so selling at this lower price leaves us barely covering production costs. This discourages me from continuing with maize farming, as the income is no longer sustainable,” Kiptoo told TUKO.coke.
Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) director Kipkorir Menjo said farmers will sell their maize after drying and the prices stabilise.
“The maize has to be harvested and dried to attain the correct moisture content. Farmers should be given more support to ensure they meet the costs of production,” Menjo told TUKO.co.ke.
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What’s the new cereals levy?
In August, the Kenyan government implemented new levies on imported cereals, including rice and wheat flour, leading to increased prices for these products.
The Agricultural Food Authority (AFA) introduced a 2% levy on the customs value of imported cereals and a 0.3% levy on cereal exports.
Importers face additional costs, with a truck of maize costing an extra KSh 20,000 and a truck of rice costing an additional KSh 50,000.
Kenya Seed Company increases maize seed prices
In other news, Kenya Seed Company announced a significant increase in maize seed prices, sparking widespread anger among Kenyan farmers and traders.
In a post on its Facebook page, the company explained that the adjustments were due to rising production costs and market fluctuations.
A 2kg packet of maize seed will now cost KSh 600, up from KSh 420, while a 10kg pack will retail at KSh 3,000 from KSh 2,000.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
