Kuria farmers lament about the poor maize prices

Migori,

Friday, September 8, 2023

KNA by Geoffrey Makokha

Maize farmers and traders in Isebania-Kuria have lamented over the low maize prices experienced in the last month after the bumper harvesting season.

The Kuria traders and farmers said that the prices of the commodity have fallen drastically after the harvesting season that took place over the last two months.

The Chairperson of the Isebania-Kuria Farmer’s Association John Maroa said that traders along the Isebania-Sirare border were buying maize from Tanzania at a lower price which has hugely affected their maize business.

“Maize traders at Isebania are buying maize at Sh45 per kilo translating to Sh4,050 per 90kg while across the border a kilo was retailing as low as Sh30 an equivalent of Sh2,700 per 90kg bag,” lamented Maroa.  

The farmers have called upon the government to intervene and so that the farmers get better payment instead of selling their produce at throwaway price.

Maroa said that in July this year, maize in South Nyanza was retailing between Sh6,000 to Sh7,000 which gave hope to Kuria farmers to increase their maize productivity.

A spot check by the KNA showed many stores along the border have closed due to low customers as a result of the high prices as compared to Tanzania.

Maroa called upon the National government to set and normalise maize prices to help the Kuria farmers and traders to remain afloat in the maize business trade.

In September this year, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi said that the government would soon set maize prices to cushion farmers from being exploited by maize cartels.

Courtesy; KNA