Agriculture PS Richard Lesiyampe. He says the government will buy maize for Sh3,600 from anyone to avert the current shortage. [Photo: Environment Ministry]The government will buy a bag of maize for Sh3,600 from anyone to avert the current shortage.Richard Lesiyampe told the National Assembly that the current sale of Sh90 for a packet of 2kg is as a result of millers getting Sh1,300 subsidy per bag."The impression that we are buying maize at Sh5,000 per bag is misplaced, unacceptable. We are buying at Sh3,600," he said.Lesiyampe and Agriculture CS Willy Bett were both at pains to explain how the government learnt of maize being hoarded leading to importation of the commodity.Bett said that farmers and retailers had hoarded maize and flour to capitalise on higher prices."Our President banned exporting of maize early in March to mitigate the maize crisis as this is a global issue now," he said.The two had appeared before the Parliamentary Agriculture Committee for grilling over the controversial maize importation.

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