NAIROBI, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Kenya plans to sell 2 million bags of maize from the strategic food reserve in order to cushion consumers against escalating food prices, the government said on Thursday.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation said in a notice published in the Daily Nation said that those eligible to purchase the maize include registered millers, posho millers as well as schools and other institutions.
"The prices for grades fit for human and animal consumption will be 2,300 shillings (23 U.S. dollars) and 14 dollars per 90 kg bag respectively, subject to availability of stocks," the ministry said.
According to government data, Kenya's consumption stood at 52 million bags of the staple crop in 2018 against a production of 46 million bags.
Most of the deficit was bridged through imports from Tanzania and Uganda, which like Kenya are members of the East African Community trading bloc.
