- Millers had complained that the two million bags of white maize will not be enough to bridge the deficit.
- They said the country needs three million bags per month for the next six months up to September, which should be about 18 million bags.
Image: FILE
The first consignment of imported maize from Mexico is expected at the Port of Mombasa in mid-June.
Kennedy Nyaga, chairman of United Grains Millers Association, said on Monday the second consignment of imported maize from Mexico will arrive in mid-July.
Nyaga did not state the quantity of maize in the consignment but said by July, millers will have imported the two million bags permitted by government.
Early this month, the government extended the window of importation from May to July to give millers ample time to import maize from Mexico.
Agriculture CS Peter Munya said last Thursday that it would take close to two months to import maize from Mexico and have it delivered at the Port of Mombasa.
“Millers felt that the May deadline would not be enough for them to source and import maize meant to cushion Kenyans from a shortage. Millers have until the end of July to import two million bags of maize to pave way for the start of the long rains harvest,” he said.
The long rains harvest is expected to start in mid-August in some parts of the country, with the first harvest from Western and South Rift hitting the market at around that time. The main harvest in the North Rift will start in November and extend till December.
Millers had complained that the two million bags of white maize will not be enough to bridge the deficit. They said the country needs three million bags per month for the next six months up to September, which should be about 18 million bags.
Nyaga said the country uses 100,000 bags per day for milling and consumption. In a month, the country uses about three million bags.
Nyaga said the imported maize will sell for Sh3,200 for a 90kg bag when it gets to the Port of Mombasa and the price will increase to Sh3,500 in Nairobi and about Sh3,700 in Nakuru.
“We have a shortage of maize but it cannot be felt now because demand for maize flour is low and Kenyans are not buying packaged maize flour as they did before," he said.
"Currently, millers are still mopping up the little maize being held by farmers at Sh3,200 to Sh3,000. The demand for maize flour is very low because the purchasing power has gone down due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Edited by Josephine M. Mayuya