Farmers jittery over plans to import maize from Tanzania, Uganda
The government is faced with a difficult balancing act of increasing agricultural production and achieving food security by reducing fertiliser prices, while at the same time maintaining attractive producer prices for farmers by protecting them from losses due to low market prices caused by the influx of cheap imported produce.
While the reduction in fertiliser prices from Sh3,500 to Sh2,500 per 50kg bag will reduce production costs, farmers have expressed fears that the entry of cheap maize under the East African Community (EAC) Common Market Protocol ahead of this season’s harvest will destabilise prices and expose them to losses.
Farmers are opposed to allowing market forces of supply and demand to determine maize prices, arguing that the arrival of cheap produce will disadvantage them as they struggle to break even.
“The cost of production in the other EAC member states — Tanzania and Uganda — is lower and they harvest their produce before us, allowing them to enjoy favourable market prices,” said Mr Jackson Kosgei in Moiben, Uasin Gishu County.
Most farmers in the North Rift region have in the past taken to the streets to protest at low producer prices due to the influx of cheap grain from EAC countries.
The demonstrations took place during the administrations of former presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta.
“Prices need to remain above Sh6,000 per bag for us to break even and consider maize farming as a viable investment,” said Ms Hellen Kemboi in Cheptiret, Uasin Gishu County.
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