Shortage of maize triggers price rises
Planting in the coastal lowlands has just started and there is a possibility the poor rains in the area may not be able to support germination. Photo/FILE
Maize supplies are rapidly running out, triggering sharp price rises, a report released on Thursday says.
The May-June Food Security Outlook Update indicates an even tighter supply situation than predicted in a story in the Nation, which said a new maize disease was threatening food security.
The report blames poor supplies on floods that have swept away roads, replanting of old seed by farmers who could not get sufficient certified seed and hoarding by speculators.
This, coupled with low yields and high demand, triggered a maize price jump of between 10 and 25 per cent between April and last week in Chwele, Kitale, Eldoret and Nakuru.
The increases are expected to continue to August.
The price of maize flour has shot up by Sh25 to Sh125 a 2kg packet this month from about Sh100 in January.
The report, prepared by the government and partners, says the price of maize in major urban centres, is 25 per cent more than last year’s and 40 to 90 per cent above the five-year average.
Last year, the price of a 2kg packet peaked at Sh136 in July before going down with the entry of short-term crops like potatoes and cabbages.
But this year, the price is expected to be way above last year’s high because of delayed rains in most maize growing areas and the effects of the new disease, especially in South Rift, which harvests early.
The report indicates that harvests will be delayed because of the late start and slow progress of planting and seed and fertiliser shortages.
Rains in almost all areas were late by four weeks.
Planting in the coastal lowlands, the report says, has just started and there is a possibility the poor rains in the area may not be able to support germination.
“In parts of Taita Taveta and Kwale, farmers are replanting after the early crop wilted due to prolonged dry conditions,” it says.
Some parts of the county are depending on informal imports from neighbouring countries, mainly Tanzania.
“Despite significant increases in cross-border informal imports that have more than doubled in April compared to March, maize prices are unlikely to decrease soon,” the report concludes.
