Planting season: Nakuru maize farmers welcome new seed prices

Maize farmers in Nakuru are relieved after the prices of maize seed were revised by the government ahead of the long planting season.

In a letter dated February 25, the Ministry of Agriculture, through the Office of the Principal Secretary, to the Managing Director, Kenya Seed Company, said they had received several requests from farmers concerning the increased prices of maize ahead of the planting season.

In the new prices which took effect on February 25, one kilogram of maize seeds will retail at Sh. 210, two kilograms at Sh. 420, 10 kilograms at Sh. 2,100, and 25 kilograms at Sh. 5,250.

Nakuru, which produces over 500,000 tons of maize, like most regions in the country, experiences its long rains in March, April, and May, which is an important planting season for maize and other farmers alike.

Mtaa Wangu spoke to a maize farmer over the phone to compare the price from last year's season and their view on the changes.

Njoroge Wachira, who farms in Njoro sub-county, says last year he bought a 2-kg bag of maize seeds at the start of the planting season at around Sh. 420. He however, adds that the prices changed over time last year.

“Last year, around March, farmers bought the 2kg bag for between Sh. 420 and Sh. 450, depending on where they bought them from. But as we neared the end of the year, I bought the same bag at Sh. 900 and previously in between, had bought the same for Sh. 600. This was very expensive for many of us,” he says.

He adds that the new prices are a fair price point for farmers even when calculating their long-term return on investment.

“I had already bought some seeds a while back because I did not want to find myself in a situation where there is shortage like last year, but I’m going to add on others to sustain me throughout the year,” says Wachira.