Agriculture CS says maize flour shouldnt exceed Sh115

Ugali lovers should not buy a two kilogram packet of maize meal at more than Sh115 according to the government with millers being put on the spot for exploitation.

This follows a meeting between the Ministry of Agriculture and millers after the removal of the government subsidy program at the end of December, with consumers calling for stabilization of maize flour prices.

Agriculture cabinet secretary Willy Bett said market research indicates there are sufficient maize stocks with no justification for prices exceeding Sh115 for a two kilogram packet of maize flour.

“Millers are also becoming businessmen but we don’t want them to over stretch their business acumen. With profits and everything else loaded in the price of flour should never exceed Sh115 per two kilogram bag,” Mr Bett said while on a tour of the Galana Kulalu irrigation project.

The maize subsidy program was introduced in May 2017 when the price of a 2kg bag of maize flour had escalated to above Sh150.

The program came to an end on December 31, with the government keen to keep prices from escalating.

Millers are currently purchasing a 90 kilogram bag of maize a Sh3,000 while the government is buying higher at Sh3,200 to incentivize farmers to sell.

Mr Bett said the government was ready to step in to ensure there is no escalation of maize prices to pass the benefits to consumers.

“We will take any other intervention if the price (for a 90kg bag of maize) threatens to go above Sh3,200,” he stressed.

Tags:

Inflation agriculture millers Ugali Galana staple food subsidy Willy Bett

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