Smuggled maize fresh blow to farmers

North Rift maize farmers whose crop has been ruined by a viral disease fear further loss after the flooding of the local market with cheap produce smuggled from neighbouring countries.
“Maize farming is at risk of being reduced to a non-profit-making venture unless the government introduces measures to protect us from unfair competition,” said Mr Wilson Kosgey from Nandi County during a forum for maize growers in Eldoret Town.

Maize prices have dropped in the past two months due to an increase in the supply of the commodity, ahead of harvesting in the North Rift, the country’s bread basket.

A bag of maize is going for Sh2,400, down from Sh3,800, as most farmers prepare to harvest the grain.

The farmers claimed that most of the maize from Uganda entered the country through the Suam border point.

“Maize prices are likely to fall further before the harvest season since the local market has been flooded with the produce, subjecting us to heavy losses,” said Mrs Susan Kong’ato from Sergoit, Uasin Gishu County.

REDUCED FERTILISER PRICES

More than 2.8 million hectares are under maize in the country this year, compared to 2.1 million hectares last year.

This follows the reduction of the price of fertiliser from Sh3,800 to Sh2,000.

Deputy President William Ruto said on Sunday that the government had partnered with the Dutch Government on the introduction of 13 new varieties of potatoes and putting another 25,000 hectares in the country under rice.

“We are also mechanising agriculture. We have already procured 1,500 more tractors which will be shared among the 47 counties.

“The Jubilee Government is on course to fulfilling all the pre-election pledges,” said the Deputy President.

He spoke during a live interview on Citizen TV.

Mr Ruto said 30,000 more farmers would this year be put on a credit scheme to boost their farming.

This will bring to 67,000 the number of beneficiaries.