Agriculture CS Willy Bett. He has attributed the low availability of white maize to competition between Kenyans and dairy animals. [Photo: the-star.co.ke]
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary for Willy Bett has reiterated that the dairy farming industry is giving Kenyans competition on white maize.
According to the CS, dairy farming has been using white maize as a feed for cattle leading to a competition for the commodity between Kenyans and the dairy cattle.
"The dairy industry is giving Kenyans competition on the white maize in the country. This is because dairy farmers are using white maize as a feed for the animals," said Bett.
However, Bett said the government had opened the importation window for yellow maize to be used as a feed for the animals and reduce the competition on white maize.
The CS further reiterated that the government had removed duty from the importation of the yellow maize to help reduce the prices of maize flour in the country.
"The government has opened the yellow maize importation window to allow dairy farmers get food for their animals. This will reduce competition on white maize between Kenyans and dairy animals," added Bett.
The CS made remarks during a Parliamentary Agriculture Committee grilling on Thursday.