Panic stricken maize farmers in North Rift region who were still holding hundreds of bags of their produce in the stores in the hope that the price will shoot up have started disposing of them at throw away prices.
The farmers, drawn from Uasin Gishu, TransNzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet and Nandi counties have been withholding more than 800,000 bags in their stores as they seek better price for their produce in the local market.
John Barno, a farmer from Moiben Sub County says that he has been prompted to sell his stock of 200 bags of maize ahead of flooding of the local markets by import of the same from neighbouring countries of Tanzania and Uganda.
“I had planned to sell my maize in June in the hope of fetching good prices, but I was forced to change my plan after the government lifted the ban on maize imports from neighbouring countries,” said Barno.
Speaking to Mwanahabari.co.ke in Eldoret town, Barno said that they were in a mad rush to dispose their stock to avoid going at total loss amid the flooding of the local markets by maize imports into the country traders
According to Barno, a 90 kilogramme bag of maize which used to sell at Ksh2,700 at the National Cereals and Produce Board was now going at between Ksh2,200 and Ksh2,400 at the market.
Jane Maiyo, another maize farmer from Mois Bridge asked the government to cushion them unfair competition from maize imports noting that it
was not the right time to lift the ban owing to the fact that most farmers were still holding in their stores last year’s maize produce.
“The government has exposed us to the middle-men who are now buying our produce at a throw away price because they know the market is
about to be saturated with maize imports from neighbouring countries,” said Maiyo.
The National Cereals and Produce Board halted the purchase of maize from farmers after it exhausted Ksh1.28 billion that was allocated to
it by the government last year.
Last month, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered the Ministry of Agriculture to clear consignments of Tanzanian imported maize that has been blocked at the Namanga borders following a bilateral meeting between the two countries.
The President directed Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya to ensure the consignments that have been lying at the border are cleared
within two weeks.
The Head of State said the normal trade relations on grain should resume ensuring that the business people do not suffer losses occasioned by restrictions that had been put in place.
“On the maize that is stuck at the border, I have given you (CS Agriculture) two weeks to ensure that the stock is cleared within two
weeks,” directed President Kenyatta.
The President made the announcement during a joint session of Kenya and Tanzanian business community in Nairobi, which was also attended
by the visiting Tanzanian President Suluhu Hassan.
The government had in March banned maize from Uganda and Tanzania, raising concerns over high levels of aflatoxin in the grain coming in
from these countries.
The ban was later lifted amid stringent measures being put in place requiring that traders bringing in the produce had to meet before they
are cleared.