Maize prices have started dropping as the harvesting season begins in different parts of the country.
A kilogramme of maize is being sold between sh1,400 and sh1,500 in the Kisenyi area and other key maize markets in Kampala and metropolitan areas, compared to sh1,900 and sh2,000 in August, according to Robert Isanga, one of the maize traders in Kisenyi.
“We are happy that the prices of maize are dropping because of the new harvests entering the market,” said Isanga as he offloaded the maize that had been brought from Lira last weekend.
The trend is likely to continue as more harvests come from the key producing areas such as Kamuli, Iganga, Jinja, Mbale, Masindi, Mubende, Kasese and Kapchorwa, among others, says the spokesperson of Kisenyi Millers (an umbrella association that unites all maize millers and traders from Kisenyi area).
“We are expecting the maize prices to drop even further as the rains reduce since farmers will be able to dry them and bring more on the market, hence forcing its prices to continue to drop,” Tumwine said.
This trend has also pushed the prices of maize flour to reduce in most retail shops across the country. For example, it is being sold between at sh3,000 and 3,200 compared to sh3,500 and sh4,000 between June and November 2022.