Reserves slump after 36,000 tons released to grain millers Kenya had insufficient rains in crop-growing regions this year Kenya’s reserves of corn dropped to less than a day’s worth of consumption after stocks of the staple grain were released to millers, the National Cereals and Produce Board said.
The board released about 36,000 tons to millers last week, he said.
The NCPB is awaiting information from the Agriculture Ministry about how the reserve will be restocked, Terer said, declining to comment further.
Most weather stations reported receiving less than 75 percent of their seasonal long-term average, it said.
“The depressed rainfall over most agricultural areas in the country has resulted in poor crop performance and even crop failure in some regions,” it said.
Of that, about 135,000 tons is packaged and sold by millers, CMA Chairman Nick Hutchinson said in an interview on Tuesday.
Reserve corn sold to CMA members for 3,000 shillings ($29) per 90-kilogram bag was enough for only 8-12 days and insufficient to drive retail prices down, the industry body said last week.
Millers are now forced to buy from the market for almost 50 percent more.
While some shipments from Mexico are already at the port in Mombasa, the berthing of the first vessel will only take place on May 17 if the rainy weather permits, according to the statement.
“Do we get maize or not?”