NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 21 – Trade, Investment and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria says the government will not purchase maize for any other reason other than strategic preservation.
In a series of statements on his social media, the CS claimed that farmers are sitting on over 20 million bags of maize, and that they are expected to harvest about 35 million bags in the next two weeks.
He further asked the farmers to urgently release the existing maize bags and those obtained after harvesting to millers, so that the latter does not import maize.
“GoK will not buy maize directly or indirectly other than for Strategic Reserve. It is estimated that farmers are sitting on 20 million bags of maize. Let them release it to the millers. You can call me if no miller is buying your maize,” Kuria tweeted.
“It is further expected that the farmers are about to harvest 35 million bags in the next two weeks. Urgently deliver that to the millers and so they will need not to import,” he stated.
The CS also said that the government will not import any maize inputs, adding that it will keep monitoring the rainfall trends and what it means for maize harvests.
“The gazette notice we will release today will open up the market to millers and anyone to import maize duty free for 6 months. Government will not import any maize inputs,” noted Kuria.
“The March – April – May rains are expected to fall short of expectations. We will keep monitoring what this means for maize harvests,” stated the CS.
Kuria’s comments come following opposition leader Raila Odinga’s remarks about leading political leaders in stopping the government’s attempt to import GMO maize into the country, adding that the move would disadvantage farmers in food-producing regions.
Odinga, who spoke at a press briefing on Sunday, vowed to lead politicians from Rift Valley and other maize producing regions to oppose importation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
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