Maize farmers in the country are supporting the move by the Kenyan government to stop the importation of maize into the country. Those who spoke to Kilimo News said that the move could see the improvement of maize prices therefore letting them earn more. In the past maize farmers have complained that maize imports eat into their markets in addition to lowering the prices of the commodity in the country.
The newly appointed Acting Director of the Agriculture & Food Authority (AFA) Kello Harsama has written to the Commissioner of Customs announcing the import ban based on health concerns. “The Authority has been conducting surveillance on the safety of food imports to Kenya. Test results for maize imported from Uganda and Tanzania have revealed high levels of mycotoxins that are consistently beyond safety limits. Mycotoxins, particularly aflatoxins and fumonisins are known to be carcinogenic. Over the years a number of acute and chronic aflatoxin related illness cases have been recorded in Kenya including deaths. We wish to bring to your attention that the Agriculture & Food Authority has stopped any further imports of the maize into Kenya with immediate effect,” says the letter.
