Kenyans will have to curb their increasing appetite for roasted and boiled maize if they want to enjoy ugali as well.
The East African Grain Council’s (EAGC) Executive Director Gerald Masila said the 2021/22 crop year experienced low production of dry maize as a result of increased consumption of green maize.
Roasted and boiled maize is now a delicacy in urban centers, and experts warn of even lower harvests as consumers show interest in green maize.
“Even with the expected harvest, our estimation is that we might be at 60 percent of a good normal harvest but still face a deficit in the coming year, which could go as high as 35 percent,” he said during a stakeholder validation forum at a Nairobi hotel.
In regions of Western Kenya such as Kakamega and Bungoma counties, there are increasing reports of petty thieves stealing maize while it is still green on the farm to fulfill the demand of the growing market for the produce.
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