NAIROBI: The government is set to release 800,000 bags of maize to millers in order to stabilize food supply in the country as well as bring down the prices of maize flour.
Acting Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohammed says the country’s food supply is expected to improve once harvesting is complete in the grain basket areas of Western and North Rift. The CS also notes that the number of people in need of food relief in the country has declined from 1.6 million in February to 1.07 million currently.
The high flour prices in the market at Shs 115 per 2kg packets is what has prompted the government to release some 800,000 bags of maize to flour millers in a move that is expected to increase food supply in the market as well as reduce consumer prices. CS Adan says the price of a 90 kilogram bag of maize is expected to drop further once harvesting begins in the grain basket regions of Western and North Rift.
The government says an increased food supply due to good harvest in the long rains has seen the number of those in need of relief food decline from 1.6 million to 1.07 million, with a further reduction expected in the coming weeks.
However, there are fears of post harvest losses due to aflatoxin contamination owing to the prediction of heavy rainfall throughout the country with the high moisture providing favorable conditions for the fungi.
Buoyed by the forecast El Nino weather phenomenon, the Ministry of Agriculture is planning to supply seeds and fertilizer to farmers in the South Eastern lowlands whose main planting season begins this month. Fears of Rift Valley Fever outbreak in the ASAls could also undermine recovery by livestock keepers who hope to reap from increased pasture for their animals.
