Kenya: Maize shortage piles pressure on households as bag hits Sh6,000

A 90-kilo bag of maize has shot up to Sh6,000 on the back of a shortage and stiff competition between millers and other agencies, piling pressure on households. The price of the commodity had dropped to Sh5,000 a bag early this month after the State announced that imports would start coming in from February 6, forcing farmers to release additional stocks to the market. The price rise is due to a shortage following delayed imports and the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) announcement last week that it had increased the buying price of maize from Sh5,100 to Sh5,600. Read: Kenya's maize imports hit five-year high The price review by NCPB has seen millers also increase the price at which they buy the produce to attract farmers. “Even at Sh6,000 a bag, we are struggling to get maize from farmers,” said Aggarwal Atin, chief executive at Trident Millers. Maize imports, which were expected early this month, have been delayed, allowing farmers and traders to hoard the grain in ...