MILLER FEARS FOR BUSINESS OVER SHORTAGE OF MAIZE

BY JEFFERSON KIPKEMOI.

Korokwony Milling Company in Bomet County is facing danger of closure following acute shortage of maize grain for milling in the region.

 Addressing journalists at the firms milling plant quarters at Bomet town the company’s General Manager Mr. Michael Cheruiyot revealed that the plant has the capacity to mill 12,000 sacks of maize per month which translates to 500 sacks per day but the company was now milling only 1,000 sacks per month due to the shortage of maize.

“The machines are being under-utilized but it is not our fault but the problem of maize shortage in the area due to lethal necrosis disease which has destroyed the maize plant in the region for the last six seasons has affected us.” Mr. Cheruiyot said.

When asked about if they had considered buying maize from other regions to offset the shortage Mr. Cheruiyot, said that would not make business sense because the company also had a debt of Sh1.3 million from their supplies which meant they could not afford to buy maize from far-flung areas as it would increase production costs.

A spot check by Ureport at Bomet supermarkets and shops showed that maize flour prices had raised by Sh. 10 over the past one week from Sh135 to Sh145 per packet of 2kg which is Sh. 30 above the price of wheat flour which costs Sh. 115 for a packet of 2kg All Purpose brand.