Maize Prices Decline in West Pokot, Impacting Traders and Farmers

WEST POKOT — In West Pokot County, maize prices have experienced a significant drop, impacting both local traders and farmers. This decrease in prices, contrary to seasonal expectations, has occurred just as the community prepares for the upcoming planting season.

According to Kenya News Agency, the price for a 90kg bag of maize in Kapenguria Municipality has fallen to approximately Sh3,000, down from Sh3,700 during the last harvesting season. Furthermore, the price for a 2kg tin of maize, a common retail measure, has dropped from Sh130 to Sh100. This downturn is particularly impactful for traders who purchase maize during the harvest to sell when prices typically rise.

One anonymous merchant described the situation as highly detrimental, especially since he had anticipated prices to surge beyond last year’s peak of Sh6,000 per bag. This expectation was based on the previous year’s market trends where significant profits were realized within six months due to price increases. The current market conditions, however, suggest potential losses for those who invested in maize stock based on these forecasts.

West Pokot County benefits significantly from maize farming, particularly from the neighboring Trans Nzoia County, known as Kenya’s food basket. Local agricultural activities, such as those in the Wei Wei Irrigation scheme, also contribute to the region’s maize production.

Farmers like Abraham Chepkopus from Mnagei Division are feeling the pinch of the price drop, having anticipated higher selling prices to cover the soaring costs of planting fertilizers, which had reached Sh6,000 per bag last season. The unexpected price drop has left many questioning their financial strategies for sustaining their maize farming operations.

Despite these challenges, there is a glimmer of hope as the government has initiated the distribution of subsidized fertilizer, potentially reducing production costs for farmers. Chepkopus, among others, is waiting to assess the market further before selling his maize to fund this season’s farm inputs.

For consumers like Philemon Kibet, the lower maize prices offer a respite from last year’s high cost of living. The reduction in staple food prices is seen as a crucial step towards addressing national food security and calming political unrest related to food affordability. Kibet attributes the current price drop to favorable short rains in the last quarter, which allowed for the cultivation of short-season crops, thereby increasing supply.

The abundance of green maize and beans in the market has also eased the pressure on school administrations, which struggled last year with inflated food costs. The anticipated long rains could further reduce food prices, positively impacting government efforts to lower the cost of living.

In preparation for the planting season, the West Pokot County government has begun distributing subsidized maize seeds, allocating Sh60 million to assist 136,356 farmers across the county, a move aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and addressing food security concerns.