Large scale farmers in the north rift have expressed their anger following the government decision to unify maize delivery to NCPB. Terming this as move that will make them suffer expenses they incurred in the previous year.
The government through president Uhuru Kenyatta had earlier this year announced an increase in price per 90 kg bag from Sh. 2300 to Sh. 2500 following farmer’s plea to the strategic food reserve to increase the price. This triggered farmers to start flocking the cereals board to sell their maize to the national food body. But the shocker just came in this week when the NCPB issued strict guidelines for those interested in selling their produce to them.
One of the guidelines is that farmers are required to supply maize not more than 400 bags of maize in a year. This is after the farmer has gone through a series of vetting process that includes approvals from area chief and indication of tittle deed number for your land.
This has angered farmers in north Rift who are now asking financier, the Agriculture finance corporation AFC to find alternative maize market for their produce so that they can refund what farmers owe them.
Following this order maize farmers in Trans Nzoia and Uasen Gishu are now set to count losses following huge loans and other expenses that they incurred while growing maize. In an exclusive interview with Bizna Kenya. Mr. Fredrick Rono a consistent farmer in Koitobos farm Trans Nzoia expressed anger with the government move to unify maize delivery at 400 per farmer. He says
“Farmers in the bread basket of this country are going through a lot of frustrations from the government. We have huge loans from AFC and other financiers taking only 400 bags from a farmer who is farming more than 500 acres. Is like telling this farmer not to plant maize.” said Rono
Farmers are now appealing to National strategic food reserve chair Dr. Noah Wekesa to reconsider the decision and change the cut of from 400 bags to 1000 so that they can be able to pay back their loans and be able to prepare for the coming planting season.
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