Millers purchasing maize from the East Africa Community are concerned about high aflatoxin levels even as they grapple with supply challenges amid hoarding by farmers.
They are especially concerned about importation of maize from Uganda with levels above the allowable 10 parts per billion, hence considered to be contaminated.
“There is an unsteady supply of maize in the market as most farmers in the North Rift region are hoarding the produce due to anticipated shortage of the crop, which is impacting negatively on our operations,” David Maina, a miller in Eldoret Town told Nation. Africa.
He said entry of maize from Tanzania and Uganda has made minimal impact in stabilising the supply due to fears that it contains unacceptable levels of aflatoxin and therefore unfit for human consumption.
“Although there is some maize in the market, we cannot mill it since it has high aflatoxin levels. We carry out tests to ensure that the imported maize meets recommended standards set by the Ministry of Health and the Kenya Bureau of Standards-Kebs,” the miller explained.
Millers have invested over Sh1 million to procure machinery for testing aflatoxin as part of conditions set by Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) to guarantee quality of maize flour.
Aflatoxin is produced by a fungus that grows on certain crops, such as maize and groundnuts.
Maize from lower Eastern-parts of Meru and Ukambani and Western Kenya region, except parts of Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia counties is deemed to have high levels of aflatoxin.
Millers have also decried the declined supply of maize as some farmers are stockpiling the produce in anticipation of increased prices due to an impending shortage of the grain.
“Food shortage is unavoidable due to low yield last season caused by the erratic climatic condition, supply of substandard fertiliser during planting season among other factors,” said James Kosgei from Ziwa, Uasin Gishu county.
A bag of maize is going at Sh3,400 up from Sh2,800 as most farmers reserve the crop awaiting improved returns.
Maize imported from the regional tradeb bloc is averaging Sh3,200 but there are fears that it could be contaminated.
The government had projected a harvest of 61 million bags of 50 kilogramme last season but farmers realised low yield due to bad weather and poor quality farm inputs.
“The maize supply in the market continues to deteriorate due to low yield while some farmers sold out the grains during harvest period due to pressing financial demands. Most of the grain was used to manufacture animal feeds,” said Kipkorir Menjo, director Kenya Farmers Association.
The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) is set to purchase one million bags for the National Strategic Food Reserve but it is faced with challenges buying the produce from farmers due to stiff competition from millers and other traders.
Whereas the NCPB is offering Sh3,500 per a 90 kilogramme bag and farmers are required to dry the crop to 13.5 moisture content and minimal broken level and coloring matter, millers and other traders are buying the maize at between Sh3,400 and Sh3,600 for the same quantity.
“We are still experiencing low delivery of maize to our buying centres,” said Titus Maiyo, NCPB corporate affairs manager, noting that they have purchased less than 30,000 out of the targeted one million bags.
The board is purchasing grade 1 and 2 maize meant for human consumption and must therefore strictly meet all the required quality parameters.
A two-kilogramme packet of maize flour averages at Sh120 in most outlets in the Eldoret city but the prices are likely to increase due to the anticipated maize shortage.
Disease outbreaks, especially fall armyworm, resulted in increased production costs and low yield.
