The maize grain price increased steadily during the month of February. It was influenced by March Commodity Market Report.
Less commodity supply was reported delivered to market during the month of March. Land preparation and planting activities were visible in some production locations, especially the bimodal areas that registered some rainfall towards the end of March. Nevertheless, preparations for planting and initial clearing of gardens were reported in the unimodal locations such as Karamoja where the weather remained hot and dry.
Given the off-season nature, commodity prices increased drastically because of limited supply. Maize grain in Kampala’s main market increased from Ugx.1250/kg in the first and second weeks to Ugx.1360-1380/kg in the final week of March. Much of the maize grain on the market was milled and sold to the domestic market as maize flour since very low demand was registered at the regional produce hub of Busia border. Maize flour was reasonably priced compared to other staples on the market such as rice, fresh cassava, potatoes and matooke, however, the flour price also gradually increased towards the end of the month.It increased from Ugx.2000/kg to 2200/kg at the end of March.
At the regional market, there was no demand especially for maize.The transit traders from Kenya found the grain market price high to purchase from the Ugandan side of the border market. The grain market price increased swiftly to Ugx.1000-1050/kg at the rural production locations such as Kiboga,Kyankwanzi, Mubende and Masaka/Rakai especially where harvesting of maize grain took place late for the second and final season of 2024.
Good quality grain was purchased at Ugx.1200/kg (Ksh.42) while fair quality at Ugx.1186/kg (Ksh.41.5). The least acceptable quality cost Ugx.1172/kg (Ksh.41). Less than 300Mt of grain was purchased formally while less than 100Mt of grain was registered traded informally from the produce market.
Mid-month, the maize prices continued to increase at the Busia regional border market registered at Ugx.1315/kg (Ksh.46/kg) while the least acceptable quality usually for animal feed at Ugx.1287/kg (Ksh.45/kg). A slightly increased volume of grain was purchased especially by transit traders from Western Kenya( Kamba region), however, Kenya had at its disposal cheaper maize from within (Bungoma) and Tanzania.
In the final week of the month, higher grain prices were reported at Busia border produce market.Good quality maize grain was offered at Ugx.1391/kg (Ksh.49) while the least acceptable quality at Ugx.1363/kg (Ksh.48/kg). Slow trading was reported in this market because the maize grain price in Kenya was lower than the Ugandan price.
At the onset of the month, the market in Uganda received beans from Ethiopia via Kenya and they were offered cheaper than the Ugandan supply. Yellow beans cost Ugx.3946/kg (Ksh.138), Wailimu at Ugx.2659/kf (Ksh.93) and Long Nambale at Ugx.3575/kg (Ksh.125). Approximately between 120-150MT of beans were received daily from the Kenyan side, however, the Ugandan market also received beans from Kabale-Kisoro (Masavu/Climbing beans)at Ugx.4060/kg (Ksh.142), Long Nambale at a slightly higher price of Ugx.3718/kg (Ksh.130) and Wailimu at Ugx.2802-2860/kg (Ksh.98-100).
The transit traders, however, demanded crops from Uganda such as Dry cassava chips at Ugx.657/kg (Ksh.23), Sorghum at Ugx.1144/kg (Ksh.40), Soy bean at Ugx.3000/kg (Ksh.105), Ground nuts at Ugx.7436/kg (Ksh.260), Simsim at Ugx.6000/kg (Ksh.210), Green grams at Ugx.2831/kg (Ksh.99) and Millet grain at Ugx.3000/kg (Ksh.105) which was apparently demanded highly and scarce.
Mid-month, stable prices were registered for beans and some of this supply from the Kenyan side was supplied to as far as Soroti, Jinja and Kampala markets indicating an increase in the beans supply from Ethiopia via Kenya.
At the close of the month, fluctuation of beans prices at the regional border market of Busia were recorded. Additionally, varieties such as Short Nambale and Mixed beans were supplied at Ugx.3976/kg (Ksh.140) and Ugx.2556/kg (Ksh.90) respectively. Limited supply of commodities was generally observed at Busia.
Some beans supply was registered from Tanzania in some Kampala markets. However, there were also traces of newly harvested beans from Buhweju. The beans prices were offered high attracting supply from Tanzania where Rosecoco beans were offered at Ugx.3500-3600/kg. Short Nambale was offered at Ugx.3600-3700/kg while Yellow beans were preferred at Ugx.3600/kg wholesale.
Other commodities delivered by Tanzanian transit traders included good quality millet at Ugx.2900/kg, Sorghum at Ugx.1200/kg, Super rice at Ugx.3600/kg, Groundnuts at Ugx.5200/kg and clean cassava chips at Ugx.550/kg. Similar prices were offered mid-month, however, increasing market prices were reported towards the end of the month. Nambale from Uganda cost Ugx.3700-3800/kg, Yellow beans cost Ugx.3500-3800/kg while Yellow beans from Tanzania was at a higher price of Ugx.4000/kg wholesale price.
Other commodities that registered a drastic increase included Millet at Ugx.3800/kg, Rice increased to Ugx.3600-4000/kg. Groundnuts from Masaka increased to Ugx.6000/kg at whole and Simsim at Ugx.5500-6000/kg.
Farmgain Africa.