By NATION AFRICA More by this AuthorThe Kenyan government has waived import duty on maize and rice for a period of six months to ease shortage of the cereals and avert a food crisis. The prices of maize flour and rice in Kenya have gone up sharply in recent months due to low local production caused by a persistent drought and high cost of inputs such as fertiliser and diesel. The local maize production deficit has forced the country to rely on imports to address the shortage. Duty free import windowIn May, the government gave traders and millers a three-month window to import 540,000 tonnes of maize duty free until August, before it was extended for two more months. Kenya imported 630,910 tonnes of rice last year valued at Ksh31.14 billion ($252.9 million), according to KNBS.

Source: Daily Nation December 16, 2022 06:35 UTC