Maize Seed Prices in Kenya: Why Farmers Are Still Paying More Despite Government Directive

• Kenyan farmers struggle with high maize seed prices despite a government directive to lower costs. Learn why prices remain unchanged and how this affects food security in 2025.

• Maize farmers in Kenya face rising costs as agrovet retailers resist price cuts. Discover the impact of high seed prices and what it means for the upcoming planting season.

Three weeks after the government ordered a reduction in maize seed prices ahead of the long rains, farmers across the country continue to face high costs with retail outlets still selling at the old prices.

The directive issued by the Ministry of Agriculture was meant to lower the cost of planting and boost maize production.

Farmers in the South Rift counties of Narok, Bomet, Kericho, and parts of Nakuru as well as central Kenya’s Nyandarua and Laikipia report that the government-capped prices remain unavailable in their local outlets.

In the South Rift, those with large tracts of land are traveling to Bomet to purchase seeds from the Kenya Seed Company depot where the government-capped prices are being honoured.

However, they must factor in additional transport costs.

“We have to incur extra expenses to access the seeds at the lower prices. The local agrovet shops are still selling at the old rates, saying they purchased their stock before the price cut and cannot afford to lower it without compensation,” said Mary Kones, a farmer from Chemaner in Bomet County.

Paul Towett, a farmer from Kelunet in Kericho County urged the government to ensure certified seeds are easily accessible in rural areas.

“Farmers should be able to buy seeds within their locality. It doesn’t make sense to save Sh50 per packet but spend Sh200 on transport,” he said.

With the onset of rains, farmers are readying to plant cereals, particularly in the Rift Valley which is Kenya’s primary food basket.

The delayed implementation of the directive has left them uncertain about the cost implications for the planting season.

On February 25, 2025, Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr Paul Ronoh directed Kenya Seed Company Managing Director Sammy Chesiror to freeze maize seed price increases.

Under the directive, maize seed prices were capped at Sh210 for a 1kg packet, Sh420 for a 2kg packet, Sh2,100 for a 10kg packet, and Sh5,250 for a 25kg packet.

“Upon consultation with your institution and other organs of the government, and taking into consideration the government plan for food security, the ministry is directing that the prices of maize seeds for 2025 long rains be retained as per the previous year (2024),” Dr Ronoh directed.

But agrovet retailers are resisting the price cut arguing that they purchased stock at higher prices and would incur massive losses if forced to comply.

“We bought two-kilogram packets from Kenya Seed Company at Sh580 each. Selling them at Sh420 means a loss of Sh160 per packet,” lamented an agrovet operator in Kericho.

Currently, a 2kg packet retails at an average of Sh620 meaning traders would have to forfeit at least Sh40 in projected profit per packet.

“This issue should have been addressed earlier. Now, we have to deal with losses just as farmers prepare to plant. The government needs to engage stakeholders before making such abrupt policy decisions,” said a retailer in Ololunga, Narok County.

In Nyandarwa, Laikipia, and Narok counties, maize seeds are retailing between Sh610 and Sh700 per 2kg packet depending on proximity to major towns.

Farmers are growing frustrated, with some opting to plant maize from previous harvests rather than buy expensive certified seeds.

“I was prepared to plant five acres of maize but due to the high seed prices, I have reduced this to three acres,” said Peter Wambugu, a farmer from Sipili in Laikipia County.

He said he could only afford four 2kg packets at Sh650 per packet, despite the CS’s directive to cap the price at Sh210 per packet.

“The government should find a way to enforce the directive. Otherwise, farmers like me will be unable to buy certified seeds,” he added.

In Ndaragwa, farmers report that a 2kg packet costs Sh700 making it unaffordable for many small-scale farmers.

“At the Ndaragua market, the seeds are going for Sh660 per 2kg packet. But transport costs to the market are Sh400 via bodaboda making it even more expensive. This is why some of us are resorting to planting recycled seeds,” said a farmer from the Nyonjoro area.

Kenya Seed Company Board Chairperson Purity Ngirici had previously warned before the directive was issued against politicising maize seed pricing insisting that the industry should be left to experts.

“Politicians should stay away from seed production, we will mess up the industry completely. Give us time as the board and management to do our work and ensure we boost food production in the country. Let us not politicise maize production,” Ms Ngirici said.

She defended the current price structure stating that the company makes a profit of just Sh3 per 2kg packet and that the current pricing model was carefully planned.

“We have turned the Kenya Seed Company around in the last two years and we should be left to run it as it is now so that we do not return to where we found it. We need to bring the company back to profitability,” Ms Ngirici said.

To mitigate expected losses resulting from the directive, the government is considering covering Kenya Seed Company under its subsidy programme.

However, details of how this will be implemented remain unclear.

In his memo, PS Ronoh confirmed that the government plans to introduce subsidies for maize seed production to ensure affordability while preventing financial strain on Kenya Seed Company.

“To ensure that the seed programme is not affected by the high cost of production and other related costs, the Ministry is considering subsidizing the cost of seeds and other farm inputs under the government subsidy program” Dr Ronoh revealed.

Kenya Seed Company has been directed to submit a detailed cost analysis of maize seed production for consideration under the subsidy programme.

The firm produces 60 varieties of seeds including maize, sorghum, wheat, millet, sunflower, and pasture seeds through contract farming arrangements nationwide.

Its maize seed varieties are designed for different climatic conditions of highlands, lowlands, medium altitudes, and drylands and are sold within the East African Community (EAC) region as certified seeds.

It was estimated that farmers were to produce 70 million bags in the last harvest season from 67 million bags in 2022 and 44 million bags in 2021.

The high production is attributed to subsidy programs put in place by the government which saw prices of 50 kilograms bags of fertiliser tumble from Sh 7,000 to Sh 2,500, leading to a sharp reduction in imports.

Agricultural experts warn that high maize seed prices could worsen food security in Kenya, particularly as some regions have already recorded lower-than-expected yields.

Mr Gordon Ochieng, an agronomist with Apollo Agriculture, said counties like Nyandarua and Narok which are considered key food-producing areas saw a 60 percent drop in maize production during the last short rains due to climate change.

“It is worrying that food basket counties are experiencing reduced maize yields. The high cost of seeds will make the situation worse,” Mr Ochieng told Nation.Africa.

Nyandarua Agricultural Officer Margaret Mungai said maize production in the county had missed its target by 51precentraising concerns about food security.

https://farmerstrend.co.ke/trending/maize-seed-prices-in-kenya/https://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FESgG3kWYAARThd-1024x614.jpeghttps://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FESgG3kWYAARThd-150x150.jpeg2025-03-18T17:36:39+00:00FarmersTrend# TrendingMaize FarmingKenyan farmers struggle with high maize seed prices despite a government directive to lower costs. Learn why prices remain unchanged and how this affects food security in 2025. Maize farmers in Kenya face rising costs as agrovet retailers resist price cuts. Discover the impact of high seed prices...FarmersTrendjohn doefarmerstrend@gmail.comAdministratorFarmers Trend Ltd.