Produce traders in Busia district are stranded with metric tons of maize worth billions of Shillings following Kenya’s ban on the importation of maize from Uganda.
The Busia produce market is one of the major hubs for produce and maize is one of the major commodities.
Produce traders in the market have been exporting maize to Kenya and other neighbouring countries however, on March 05th, 2021, the Kenya Agriculture and Food Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives banned the importation of maize from Uganda and Tanzania citing high levels of toxins that they say are beyond the safety limit.
The ban by Kenya has taken a huge toll on produce traders in Busia.
Bakhali Magemeso, the General Secretary Busia produce dealers cooperative, says that they are stranded with thousands of metric tons of maize that are loaded on trucks and piled in stores due to lack of market.
He says should the ban continue, many produce dealers will end up in debts since they operate on loans.
Wilson Musenero, among other traders, says that they are stuck with metric tons of maize in the store and another on the truck worth millions of Shillings.
