Farmers to earn more from maize : The Standard

The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) has been ordered to purchase at least two million bags of maize from farmers. At the same time, President Uhuru Kenyatta told NCPB to buy the maize at Sh2,500, an improvement from the Sh2,300 the Government had initially offered for a 90-kg bag. He also directed NCPB to open its buying centres to facilitate the Strategic Food Reserve to buy the maize. "I have directed the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture to authorise the National Cereals and Produce Board, through the Strategic Food Reserve, to immediately open, in coordination with respective county governments, buying centres and stores to receive maize from farmers across the country," Uhuru said in a statement yesterday.

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He also directed scrutiny of pending bills to ensure speedy payments to farmers. "I call upon the investigative agencies to expedite verification of the pending bills to ensure maize farmers are paid as soon as possible." The President said the bumper harvest in the 2018 season yielded 46 million bags. In addition, there were 2.5 million bags carried over from the 2017 harvest. Uhuru said the Government would at the same time release 1.7 million 90Kg bags of maize at Sh1,600 and an additional 300,000 bags of animal feed at Sh1,400 per bag. "It is clear there is sufficient maize in the market which is selling at between Sh1,700 and Sh1,800 per 90Kg per bag. With these interventions, I do not expect changes in the existing price of unga."

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The President added: "Last year, I directed the Ministry of Agriculture to finalise verification of pending payments to sugar cane farmers. I am pleased to confirm the process has been successfully completed. I am therefore directing the ministry and the National Treasury to immediately start the process of paying the farmers."

Related Topics

National Cereals and Produce BoardNCPBPresident Uhuru KenyattaMaize farmers