Maize farmers in Nandi County have lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to buy maize at a cost of Kshs 2,500 per 90 kg bag, up from the initially Cabinet approved Kshs 2,300. Speaking to West Media in Mosop constituency led by their spokesperson Mr Paul Kerich, he cited that the President’s directive to NCPB on the maize purchase, opening of buying centers and stores across the country shows the President Kenyatta’s great concern for farmers and that the decision has eased their burden.
The farmers said the price isn’t bad although it would’ve been better if it were Kshs 3,000 and urged the government to consider the same. On Thursday, President Kenyatta revealed the new bags purchase price and also ordered the opening of the buying centres and stores in coordination with respective County governments. He also noted that the government will release 1.7 million 90 kg bags of maize at Kshs 1,600 and 300,000 bags at Kshs 1,400, after a harvest of 46 million bags in 2018, with 2.5 million bags carried over from the year 2017. He also urged the investigative agencies to expedite verification to ensure timely patients, and expressed his optimism that there would be changes in the price of maize flour.