There was a large stock pile of maize delivered in the opening week of April in Kampala market. This was due to an increase in the grain price at Ugx.900/kg which forced rural stockists to deliver more maize in order to earn the Ugx.900/kg which was a good price compared to their buying price at the opening of the season in December/January.
In the production locations of Kyankwanzi and Kiboga, maize was offered lowest at Ugx.700/kg. In Masindi it was registered at Ugx.750/kg, however, in Mubende it was slightly higher at Ugx.800/kg given the distance to main markets.
The grain market in Kapchorwa reported maize price gradually increasing because it was planting time/ offseason so traders bought from Mbale at Ugx.800/kg offering at Ugx.900-950/kg. In Gulu, maize was registered at Ugx.700/kg due to large stock piles held by transit traders. The highest grain price at the onset of the month was offered in Arua.
During the second week of April, a reduction in price for maize was reported in Kampala markets resonating the fact that less maize grain was demanded at the regional market. Maize price dropped from Ugx.900/kg to Ugx.800/kg wholesale in Kisenyi and Owino markets due to additional supply of maize from Tanzania via Mutukula border. Traders in the city noted that there was low demand for maize flour.
In West Nile region, maize grain prices were high due to low supply. Maize was delivered from Hoima and Masindi while cassava was received from Soroti. Beans were equally expensive due to the fact that it’s off season. In Lira, maize was reasonably low priced at Ugx.700-800/kg due to large stock piles held by stockists from the previous harvest season while in Kamwenge maize cost Ugx.700/kg and most farmers had sold off at Ugx.500/kg to stockists who claimed to have lost a lot of money in the past season because of reduced market prices.
The maize price stabilized at Ugx.790-800/kg in Kampala during the close of the month, however, traders expected fluctuation of market price due to the fact that a number of them held on to their stock speculating for a higher price before the new maize season opens probably in June/July. More grain was expected on the market from stockists in the following weeks.
During the second week of the month of April, a reduced maize demand from the Kenyan transit traders at Busia was registered. This was due to cheaper maize supply on the same market from neighboring Tanzania. Plenty of maize had been received in the opening week of April and stock piles were held by the stockists at the border market. The volumes purchased daily dropped between 5000-8000MT daily and, likewise, the purchase price declined to Ugx.765/kg (Ksh.30) for good quality maize while mixed quality (least acceptable quality) dropped at Ugx.688/kg(Ksh.27).
The Ugandan traders will most likely reduce the price for stock held because it’s old stock compared to the Tanzanian newly harvested supply. Therefore, the grain price will most likely be stable in other production locations due to less demand from the Kenyan regional market at Busia.
A reduction in demand for Ugandan maize continued to feature at Busia regional market during the close of the month because the market preferred supply from Tanzania which was much better although it registered a higher moisture content level. Several traders held maize in their stores from the previous season at their stalls anticipating to sell at a better price in this market. Only an estimated 900-1200MT of grain daily were traded during the final week at Ugx.834//kg (Ksh.29.5) for good quality grain. The least acceptable quality was offered at Ugx. 764/kg(Ksh.27) forex-28.3
Newly harvested beans were first delivered in the opening week of April at a higher price from Buhwejju. New Yellow beans cost Ugx.4000-4200/kg while Long Nambale at Ugx.3500/kg. Later, newly harvested beans were also reported from Tanzania. Nambale from Tanzania cost Ugx.3600/kg. The Old stock Yellow beans dropped to Ugx.3100-3200/kg. Short Nambale from Tanzania cost Ugx.3500/kg while Old short Nambale cost Ugx.2800-3000/kg. White beans were also received from Tanzania at Ugx.2800-3000/kg. The Tanzanians also delivered with them good quality cassava chips at Ugx.750-800/kg, White Groundnuts at Ugx.3000-3400/kg and Red beauty groundnuts at Ugx.4000-4500/kg wholesale and super rice at Ugx.4000-4600/kg depending on grade.
Beans were reported scarce in Masindi costing Ugx.4000-5000/kg retail price at the onset of the month while in other markets such as Kiboga at Ugx.4500/kg retail. In Mubende, beans were cheaper due to a large stock held from the previous season at Ugx.3000/kg wholesale. Kapchorwa offered Nyayo beans at Ugx.3500/kg and Red beans at Ugx.3000/kg delivered from Busia. Mbale reported old stock beans at Ugx.4000/kg.
Mid-month, more supply of the first seasonal beans harvest from Buhwejju continued to reach the market in Kampala. Later an additional supply of newly harvested beans from Tanzania rendering the old stocked beans from the previous season cheaper.
Old stock long Nambale was offered at Ugx.2500-2800/kg while the newly harvested from Buhweju and Tanzania cost Ugx.3500-3600/kg wholesale. Newly harvested Yellow short beans were only delivered from Tanzania at a cost of Ugx.3800-4000/kg while old stock yellow beans registered a declined price of Ugx.3000/kg. Newly harvested Short Nambale were offered at the highest price of Ugx.4000-4500/kg from both Tanzania and Buhweju. Old stock short Nambale cost Ugx.3500-3600/kg. The Old stock beans have been referred to other rural markets at the close of the month of April where supply was low because it’s off season. It’s speculated that the first beans harvest might come in as early as May due to the initial seasonal rains.
Likewise, the Tanzanian beans supply reached the Kenyan market at the regional border market of Busia affecting the rate of demand for Ugandan beans during the second week. Only an estimated 200MT of assorted varieties of beans daily were purchased at Busia from Uganda registering very low demand. New Rosecoco beans from Buhweju were preferred and at a higher price of Ugx.3570/kg (Ksh. 140). Yellow and Nambale Old stock beans cost Ugx.2932/kg (Ksh.115), Wailimu beans and Nambale Long beans cost Ugx.1836/kg (Ksh.72) and Ugx.2346/kg (Ksh.92) respectively.
Other commodities demanded by the Kenyan traders at Busia market included millet at Ugx.1938/kg (Ksh.76), Red sorghum at Ugx.969/kg (Ksh.38), White sorghum at Ugx.867/kg (Ksh.34). Dry cassava chips at Ugx.600/kg (Ksh.23.5), Groundnuts at Ugx.4972/kg (Ksh.195) and Simsim at Ugx.5610/kg (Ksh.220).
Similarly, low demand was registered for Ugandan beans at the end of April because of supply of beans from Ethiopia to the Kenyan market at Ksh.100/kg. This supply was received at Busia post market mixed with the old stock from Uganda and was offered to “Teso” sub-region traders who demanded for it. An estimated 48-50MT of assorted beans daily were traded from Kenya to Uganda in the final two weeks of April,2024. Yellow beans cost Ugx.3,254/kg (Ksh.115) while Nambaale cost Ugx. 2631/kg(Ksh.93), Wailimu beans cost Ugx. 2065/kg (Ksh.73), Rosecoco from Ethiopia at Ugx.4103/kg (Ksh.145).
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