The price of maize flour is likely the drastically reduce next month when the first consignment of zero rated maize imports hits the market.

Agriculture Principal Secretary Philip Harsame says regulations to guide the importation of the white and yellow maize would be published next week.

The government is optimistic that the first consignment of the 900 metric tones of zero rated white maize will hit the market next month.

Already the government has licensed 20 traders to import white maize and 50 to import yellow maize to reduce the retail price of maize flour and animal feeds.

He says modalities and regulations that will guide the importation of the maize will be gazetted next week.

The government hopes the imported yellow maize will help reduce the high price of eggs and milk.

The Ministry of Agriculture is seeking a budgetary allocation of Ksh 8.44 billion to implement the 10-year agricultural marketing strategy that will strengthen the supply chain by linking farmers directly to markets by.

The marketing strategy targets to reduce post harvest losses that stand at 30pc.