Kenya approves import of 5.5m bags of yellow corn for livestock feed to ease pressure on white maize
- Farmers urged to cultivate yellow variety to meet animal feed demand of over one million tonnes annually and help reduce the country’s reliance on imports
- Competition between animal feed producers and maize millers for the limited white maize stocks available in Kenya has contributed to a 26 percent increase in the price of a 90-kilogram bag of maize
By Zablon Oyugi
More than 5.5 million bags of non-GMO yellow maize have been approved by the government for importation over the next year to alleviate the current pressure on white maize, which is in high demand for both human and livestock consumption.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe says a 50 percent duty waiver will be applied to these imports, facilitating their entry into the country. The imported yellow maize will be exclusively for animal feed production.
This is in response to the escalating competition between animal feed producers and maize millers for the limited white maize stocks available in the country. The competition has contributed to a 26 percent increase in the price of a 90-kilogram bag of maize.
By shifting animal feed production to yellow maize, the government aims to make white maize more accessible and affordable for human consumption, thereby stabilising the cost of maize flour, a staple in Kenyan households.
Release maize from National Strategic Reserve
In addition to facilitating imports, the government plans to release maize from the National Strategic Food Reserve to flour millers to further cushion consumers from the impact of rising maize flour prices.
CS Kagwe encourages local farmers to cultivate yellow maize to meet the domestic livestock demand of over one million tonnes annually. He says such a shift would reduce reliance on imports and positively impact the national economy.
This policy marks a shift from the government’s previous stance. In October 2023, President William Ruto halted the issuance of new permits for maize and wheat imports to protect local farmers, stating that such measures would only be reconsidered in the event of insufficient local produce.
The current move to allow yellow maize imports reflects the government’s adaptive approach to addressing the nation’s food security challenges and economic needs.