Maize Production Dips, Pushing Flour Prices Up
Kenya’s maize, millet, and potato production declined in 2024, driving food price increases. Maize output dropped 6.1% due to erratic rains, prompting government action to release strategic reserves and allow imports. Meanwhile, sugarcane production nearly doubled, boosted by favorable weather and expanded acreage. Rising maize prices risk food insecurity, despite gains in beans and sorghum yields this year.
The production of millet, potatoes and maize fell short of 2023 levels last year, creating the prospect of price increases before the harvest season expected this month in some parts of the country.
- Maize production decreased by 6.1 per cent, from 47.6 million bags in 2023 to 44.7 million bags in 2024 this was largely attributed to erratic short rains in 2024 that affected maize production.
- Potato production decreased by 4.3 per cent, from 2.3 million tonnes to 2.2 million tonnes, Millet production decreased 1.0 million bags in 2023 to 0.7 million bags in 2024.
- Maize, a staple food among many households has seen price surge in the past few months with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) indicating an increase of 5.8% in the prices of Maize Grain Loose and 6.5% jump in fortified maize flour, according to the April Inflation Highlights.
To stabilise the market, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has revealed that the government will release maize from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) strategic reserves to millers, and allow imports from Tanzania.
“We are fully aware of the maize stocks in the country, and some individuals are hoarding maize in hopes of higher prices,” he added.
Kenya’s maize production has been averaging above the 40 million bags annually from 2020 save for 2021 and 2022 when production was at 36.7 million and 34.3 million bags respectively. In 2020, the country recorded a production 42.1 million bags compared to 2023’s 47.6 million bags.
Beans’ production, on the other hand, has increased by 4.2% to 10 million bags in 2024, while sorghum production increased by 22.7%, to 2.7 million bags in 2024.
In 2024, the area under sugarcane increased by 13.2 per cent to 293.3 thousand hectares. The harvested area increased by 62.1 per cent to 134.9 thousand hectares in 2024. The increase was mainly attributed to increased availability of mature cane during the year under review after the closure of mills from July 2023 – November 2023.
As a result, total cane production nearly doubled, increasing from 5.6 million tonnes in 2023 to 9.4 million tonnes in 2024. Further, the increase in sugarcane deliveries was attributed to favorable weather conditions for sugarcane growth in most sugar-growing zones and the expansion of sugarcane acreage. The average yield increased from 56.9 tonnes per hectare in 2023 to 61.0 tonnes per hectare in 2024.
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Source : The Kenyan Wall Street
