Kenya Records Highest Prices on Maize, 3 Other Basic Foodstuffs After Ruto Imposed Levies
Kenya has reported the highest prices for maize, rice, wheat, and beans in East Africa, according to a September report by the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). The report attributes this to high demand for maize, the country’s staple food. Additionally, Kenya has imposed levies on imports and exports of cereals and pulses, affecting food prices.
Kenya has reported the most expensive prices of maize, rice, wheat, and beans in East Africa according to the latest report by the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
In the monthly report released for September, AGRA attributed this development to the high demand for the maize crop in Kenya as it serves as the staple food for most Kenyans.
“Kenya records the most expensive prices (in USD terms) of maize, rice, wheat, and beans in the region given that the price of maize in Kenya attracts excess margins from retailers of up to 82% due to the high demand of the staple crop in the country,” the report reads.
Despite these statistics, however, the price, in local currency, remained relatively lower than it was a year ago in all the select East African countries except in South Sudan where they recorded 46-196% higher than the past 1-12 months.
Of all the countries considered including Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania, the latter recorded the lowest prices in maize at $220(Ksh28,417.40) per tonne compared to almost or over $300(Ksh38,751) per tonne in all the other countries.
In terms of food insecurity in East Africa, the number of people without sufficient food for consumption rose by an alarming 11.6 million in just one month from 33.7 million in August to 45.3 million in September 2024.
According to the report, this worrying uptick could be attributed to the rise of food insecurity in Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan, which were three of the five East African Countries selected.
West Africa also suffered a similar deterioration with a rise of 7.6 million, also a result of an uptick in three West African countries considered including; Togo, Ghana, and Nigeria.
“It appears the aftermath of the weather-related shocks (floods and droughts), conflicts and refugee burdens, as well as challenging macroeconomic conditions, are impacting negatively the food security situation in the regions,” the report reads.
The report also highlighted the latest government policies imposed in the agricultural sector by the Kenyan government including the imposed levies on imports of; cereals at 2%, legumes/pulses at 2%, and roots and tubers at 1%.
The government has also imposed a 0.3% export levy on the same products which came into effect on July 1.
Most recently, the Kenyan Government also banned the import of sugar outside of the COMESA and EAC regions, citing an increase in local production.
Source Link : https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/105313-kenya-records-highest-prices-maize-3-other-basic-foodstuffs-after-ruto-imposed-levies
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