This archive report was first published on 4 November 2019.
Kenya is bracing for another year of maize imports, with officials warning of a looming production shortfall. The Agriculture ministry has projected a shortfall of 10 million bags this season, citing heavy rains and postharvest handling losses that may rise by up to 30 percent.
Principal Secretary for Agriculture Hamadi Boga warned that the situation next year may be worse than this season, with white maize scarcity expected to hit the market from February. 'We might have to think of imports to be safe,' he said.
The country is already grappling with a white maize shortage, which has pushed up flour prices to Sh135 per two-kilogramme packet. The ministry had previously warned that Kenya would run out of maize by the end of July, but its attempt to secure a duty-free import window was blocked by the Strategic Food Reserve Fund (SFR).
Prof Boga attributed the rise in flour prices to the failure to import grains as proposed by the ministry. He also hinted at regulating imports to prevent abuse, saying 'only what is required' would be brought in.
Published on November 4, 2019
