[PHOTO/the-star.co.ke]
Maize traders in Kenya have turned their attention to Uganda because of the huge differences in prices between the two countries.
The traders are now buying the commodity at Sh1,600 less than what the Kenyan suppliers are offering for a 90kg bag.
This has made the trades make lots of profit and deny the Kenyan farmers the ready market for their harvests.
According to the Eastern Africa Grain Council, a 90kg bag of maize in Kenya goes for Sh3,600 but is sold at Sh1,975 in Uganda.
“Uganda has harvested and there is surplus of maize hence the low price. There is currently a lot of cross-border trade in Busia with large volumes of grains coming from Uganda into Kenya," a source from EAGC said.
In Mombasa, a bag of maize goes at Sh2,970, Sh2,700 in Eldoret, Sh3,150 in Kisumu and Sh2,493 in Nakuru.
Burundi has the highest price with the same bag going for Sh6,088.
In Tanzania the price is Sh2,908.