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China-Africa Trade Information Service
http://info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
Image from Anadolu Agency
Due to the shortage of corn on the market, Kenya predicts that feed prices will reach the highest in three years.
The price of animal feeds had risen by between Sh300 and Sh500, a development that manufacturers attributed to more expensive raw material.
The Association of Kenya Feeds Manufacturers (AKEFEMA) said the current maize shortage in the country had pushed up the cost of raw material to Sh3,200 for a 90-kilo bag from the initial Sh2,200.
The retail price of a 70 kilogramme pack of chick mash had shot up to Sh3,600 from Sh3,300 the previous week while growers marsh sold for Sh3,100 from Sh2,800 previously.
Increases were also recorded in the price of standard dairy meal, which was selling at Sh4,500 on Friday, up from Sh4,200 previously.
The association has now petitioned the government to remove duty on imported yellow maize and allow processors to ship in the grain to lessen competition between humans and animals.
Animal feeds are made from the same white maize that is consumed by humans, creating stiff competition between the two in times of scarcity.
The shortage of the commodity has also impacted negatively on the cost of maize germ, which is normally sold to manufacturers by millers as one of the key ingredients in feeds making. A kilo of this germ has gone up from Sh18 per kilo to Sh24.
The high cost of animal feeds will increase the cost of production with overall effect expected to be felt by consumers as it will impact on prices of different animal products such as chicken, milk and eggs.
