The month of April marked the opening of the first seasonal harvest for beans. Freshly harvested beans were received at Busia at a slightly higher price compared the old stocked beans. An estimated 400MT were received in this market daily throughout the week. Trading was slow. Few traders turned up to purchase beans, however, the quality was highly moist. As usual, Yellow beans were preferred at Ksh.135-140/kg while Short Nambale at Ksh.120-130/kg. Other varieties demanded by this particular market included Red Wailimu beans and Mixed beans at Ksh.95-100/kg and Kash.92/kg respectively. Supply was registered from Kiboga, Mityana, Ntungamo, Kibaale, Mbale and Kikagati districts.

Old stocked beans were bought cheaper in this particular market. Old stocked beans found a better market back in Kampala because demand for the same was higher there.

By the second week, the beans price declined as more supply was delivered to Busia. Yellow beans declined to Ksh.125-130/kg while Short Nambale price to Ksh.110-115/kg. Red Wailimu beans and mixed beans reduced to Ksh.92-97/kg and Ksh.90/kg respectively.

By the third week of May, beans prices dropped further. Yellow beans were preferred cheaper at Ksh.107/kg. Short Nambale beans at Ksh.96/kg, Red Wailimu beans at Ksh.82/kg, Saitoti and Rosecoco beans at Ksh.100/kg and Mixed beans at Ksh.80/kg.

At the close of the month, approximately 200-400MT of assorted beans were bought on a daily at Busia border market destined for Kenya indicating a major decline in price compared to the seasonal opening price. Plenty of beans were delivered to Busia and Yellow beans were also preferred at Ksh.88/kg while Nambale short and Rosecoco beans at Ksh.85/kg (Ugx.2975) and Ksh.70/kg (Ugx.2450) respectively. Other beans varieties demanded by traders included mixed beans at Ksh.62/kg (Ugx.2170), red Wailimu at Ksh.65/kg (Ugx.2275) and Long Nambale at Ksh.82/kg (Ugx.2870).

The newly harvested beans delivered to Kampala at the opening of the month were reported from Mubende, Mityana, Mbarara, Kisiita, Kibaale and Hoima. Yellow beans and Masavu (Sugar Beans) were preferred on this particular market at Ugx.5000/kg. Short Nambale (Nabe 1) cost Ugx.4800/kg while the Long variety at Ugx.4200/kg. The old stock beans in this market cost Ugx.2700-3000/kg. Old stock yellow beans cost Ugx.3600/kg while Long Nambale at Ugx.3200/kg.

The beans yield was affected by irregular weather pattern where some areas received too much rain and others were affected by longer dry spells.

Full harvest was realized at the close of the month. In Kampala, Yellow beans were offered at Ugx.3400-3500/kg at wholesale. Most supply was received from the Central and Western regions (Mbarara and Hoima districts). Short Nambale declined to Ugx.2800-2900/kg while Rosecoco (Kahuura) was sold at Ugx.2800/kg. Other beans varieties such as Kanyeebwa and Mixed were offered at Ugx.3000-3300/kg and Ugx.1800-2000/kg respectively at wholesale.

Long Nambale beans were offered cheaper than Short Nambale at Ugx.2600-2650/kg wholesale. The beans harvest is expected to continue until July. High prices were noted in the Northern region markets such as Gulu and Lira districts because the harvest has not taken off. Supply was received from Hoima and Kiboga districts at Ugx.3000-3300/kg wholesale.

Maize grain was offered at Ugx.1030-1060/kg in Kisenyi Millers market-Kampala at the start of May. Less grain trading was registered in Kampala due to low demand for maize flour. A kilo was offered at wholesale Ugx.2000 while maize bran at Ugx.250-300.

In the following week, the grain price declined drastically as traders off loaded all old stock grain to the market in fear that the just harvested Tanzanian maize via Namanga to Busia would run them into losses. When the Ugandan traders interfaced with the Tanzanian supply in the same market, they dropped their price. Maize grain price declined from Ugx.1000-950/kg after registering slightly more supply in Kampala.

Fresh maize on cob started reaching the market mid-May further exciting the grain market leading more speculators drop off some grain held in anticipation of high market price. Fresh maize on cob was delivered from Bunyoli and Budama Tororo.

Less demand for grain was registered in Kampala Kisenyi Millers market. The grain price was very stable at Ugx.950-960/kg wholesale by the third week.

Plenty of other fresh staple foods were received in this market rendering maize costly when compared to them. Plenty of rice was received from Tanzania driving the market price lower to Ugx.2600-3000/kg during the month of May.

The grain price in Kampala reduced further at the close of May to Ugx.900-930/kg from Ugx.950/kg

Likewise, the price of maize flour declined at wholesale to Ugx.1850-1900/kg wholesale Kisenyi –Kampala price.

At Busia an estimated 400MT was traded on a daily basis at the beginning of May. Good quality maize grain was bought at Ksh.31/kg while fair quality at Ksh.30.5/kg. The least acceptable quality was bought at Ksh.29/kg. Other commodities demanded included Sorghum at an estimated 300MT daily at Ksh.27-28/kg, Millet grain at 200MT daily costing Ksh.29/kg. Cassava, Groundnuts, Simsim and Green grams were also demanded by this market.

The grain price reduced in the second week to Ksh.27-29/kg good quality grain while the least acceptable quality at Ksh.25/kg. It fluctuated to Ksh.31.5/kg while the least acceptable quality at Ksh.27/kg by the third week. The increment was attributed to an increase in Kampala grain market price then. (Forex rate: Ksh.34.5)

Approximately 300MT of maize were purchased by Kenyan traders at the Busia Border Produce market in the final week. At the close of the month, business was distorted over the weekend when the traders converged back to their trading location and were dispersed by police for not observing safety guidelines against the Covid 19 pandemic. The traders returned to trading along the streets of the municipality. Good quality maize was offered at Ksh.29-30/kg (Ugx.1015-1050) indicating a slight fluctuation in price compared to the previous week’s price. The least acceptable quality was bought at Ksh.25/kg (Ugx.875).

Maize grain was registered low in Masindi and Gulu at Ugx.900/kg while in Tororo and Mbale at Ugx.1000/kg. In the production locations, the maize grain price was stable at between Ugx.800-900//kg. This was the case in Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, Masindi and Mubende. There are indications that the first season crop in the western and central regions could be affected by dry spells of harsh sunny weather. Some maize at cob formation and flowering stage could be highly affected if the rain does not continue in the month of June. The beans harvest was equally affected by too much water.

Plenty of fresh items such as Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, Matooke and Fresh Cassava were in plenty in different markets countrywide. Cassava was registered cheapest in Masindi where a bag weighing 300kg cost Ugx.20,000-25,000. More harvest of Irish potatoes was delivered to the market from Mbale, Sebei and Mbarara driving the market price lower. A sack weighing 100kg from Mbale cost Ugx.110,000 while that from Kabale at Ugx.130,000-140,000. Sweet potatoes and fresh cassava offered at retail cost Ugx.1000-2000 per heap weighing 2-6 kilos. Irish potatoes were received from various production locations such as Kisoro, Kabale, Mubende, Mbale, Kapchorwa and Kween districts. This has driven the market price low at Ugx.80,000/100kgs. However, the current rains in some of the above mentioned locations has led to fluctuation of prices in some of the above markets due to impassable roads mid-May.

Trading at the border post of Mutukula was limited by the process of checking truck drivers for Covid 19 disease. Maize, beans, cassava and rice are some of the commodities expected from Tanzania before our harvest in June/July. The price of rice in some markets has already declined drastically due to this import. In Kampala the price of super rice from TZ dropped to Ugx.2600-3000/kg wholesale depending on quality. Maize at this border post was offered at Ugx.850-870/kg wholesale price.

Farmgain Africa

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