Maize, Rice Imports to Arrive by August

The importation of an additional 500,000 tonnes of white duty-free maize and 500,000 tonnes of rice has received government approval in an effort to protect consumers from the high prices of the essentials resulting from a severe shortage.

Another 500,000 tonnes of yellow maize, 250,000 tonnes of soya bean meal, and 150,000 tonnes of soya bean, among other consignments, will arrive in the country between March and August 6.

Njuguna Ndung’u, Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Development, stated that the imported grains must adhere to specific international and health criteria in a notification published in the Kenya Gazette.

“The imported white maize shall have a moisture content not exceeding 13.5 percent and aflatoxin levels shall not exceed 10 parts per billion (ppb) as provided by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) and the Department of Public Health of the Ministry of Health,” stated the notice.

Maize is now costing Sh6,200 for a bag weighing 90 kilograms. A Kebs-issued certificate of conformity will be included with the imports. 

The government wants the imported maize to sell for Sh4,200 per 90-kilogram bag, but millers have imposed strict requirements, including letting the market’s forces of supply and demand determine the prices and paying the Sh2.6 million in subsidy arrears from the previous year.

Most millers have ceased operations and sent their workers home as part of cost-cutting measures due to an extreme scarcity of maize to support their crushing capacity.

“We currently have zero stock and expect the government to come up with measures that will sustain a steady flow of the commodity and address the high prices of flour,” said Ken Nyaga, the United Grain Millers Association chairman, on the phone.

Due to a dramatic increase in the price of maize, the price of flour has increased from Sh180 for a two-kilogram package to above Sh200. Following the docking of 42,464 tonnes of yellow corn from the Port of Odesa in Ukraine on Sunday, 500,000 tonnes of yellow maize are anticipated to be imported.

The government has been urged by the millers to take action to protect consumers from the high price of flour.

One of their suggestions is to permit the consumption of yellow maize.

However, CS Ndung’u claimed in the most recent Gazette notice that the 500,000 tonnes of yellow maize will only be used to produce animal feed.

“The imported yellow maize shall have a moisture content not exceeding 14.5 percent and its aflatoxin levels shall not exceed 10 ppb as provided for under the laws of Kenya and shall be used for the manufacture of animal feeds only.”

In January, the Ministry of Agriculture permitted importers to bring in 900,000 tonnes of duty-free white maize and 600,000 tonnes of duty-free milled maize from January through August. 

Millers, however, have been hesitant to purchase maize due to the soaring prices on the global market brought on by low yields.

Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mithika Linturi has, however, approved the importation of 500,000 tonnes of white Grade 1 milled rice as an alternate supply of starch to protect consumers from rising food costs in an effort to address a coming maize crisis. Prior to August 6, imported rice is anticipated to arrive, and it will be accompanied by a certificate of conformity given by the Kebs. 

This rice is anticipated to meet both national and international food standards.

The government has also authorized the importation of 37,500 tonnes of premix components, 7,500 tonnes of enzymes, and 1,600 tonnes of various protein concentrates.

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization’s most recent global food index (from December 2022), maize and rice prices will increase by 6.2% globally as a result of limited supply and high demand in Asian exporting nations.