A combine harvester in a wheat farm [Photo/Safari254.com]
Global wheat prices have shot up six percent over the last one month amid low local production which signals pain for consumers who have been paying high prices since July.
According to the ministry of agriculture, local wheat harvest has been poor this season prompting the price of a 90 kilogram bag to go up to Ksh 3,200 from the previous Ksh 3,000 with the coming shortage expected to push up the cost further in the upcoming months.
A data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Authority (FAO) has shown that the price of a tonne of wheat has increased from Ksh 20,806 in last month to the current Sh22,146.
The chief executive officer of the Cereal Growers Association, Antony Kioko has however projected the local production to down this season by half million bags.
“Wheat production this year is not good and we are expecting a drop of half a million bags in the ongoing harvest,” said Mr Anthony Kioko.
Even with the ongoing wheat harvesting season that began on July, the price wheat flour has Risen with Exe flour retailing currently at 138 from 133 in July, Golden brand had also risen from 129 to 133.