Ministry allays fears of looming maize shortage

Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr Richard Lesiyampe Tuesday allayed fears of a looming maize shortage saying Kenya had ample maize stocks.

Dr Lesiyampe said a meeting with maize millers as well as National Cereals and Produce Board officials had been convened today to look into challenges that have precipitated a sharp increase in maize flour prices.

“All our maize at NCPB, milers warehouses and at farmers’ stores is safe for consumption and there is no alarm of the alleged dreaded aflatoxin as claimed. The government has strict regulations that are adhered to by every player and no state agency will bend the rules to allow such ‘dirty’ maize into the processing system,” he said.

This was in response to a Nation story published Monday stating that millers had refused to buy maize from the NCPB, citing quality issues. According to the millers, the maize is “unfit for consumption because it is discoloured and prone to attack by weevils”.

Speaking in Nairobi, the PS said that Kenya had 10 million bags in NCPB stores as food reserves while another 5 million bags were being held by farmers with an undisclosed amount currently awaiting milling at various factories.

“Some claim that our maize has turned yellow but that does not mean it is harmful and hence useless. It can be used for manufacture of dairy and chicken feed and it is only NCPB that has capacity to test for aflatoxin,” he said.

Dr Lesiyampe castigated millers claiming there existed an aflatoxin threat saying millers had no capacity to test for the same.

“Our maize in North and South Rift regions is safe for consumption but we are not taking chances and have sent a team to check on the allegations.Surveillance teams are on the ground and have been joined by other state agencies involved in agricultural development research,” he said.