The decline in prices comes as a big relief to millions of consumers, who few weeks ago were suffering under the weight of high cost of the commodities due to low supplies, making the government introduce subsidies. A government subsidy that followed the importation of duty free maize has helped bring the cost of maize flour to a low of $0.09, with supply of the commodity which was recently hard to come by steadying. While farmers who planted early in some parts of the country have started harvesting their maize, what has stabilised the prices are increased imports from Zambia and neighbouring Tanzania. Kenya was set to import up to three million bags of maize between May and July to ease the severe shortage. However, by end of August, the ministry of agriculture is targeting to ship in up to five million bags of the commodity.