Trans Nzoia senator Henry Ole Ndiema has appealed to the government to consider buying maize from farmers hailing from Trans Nzoia County before purchasing maize from farmers who hail from different counties.
The senator said maize farmers from the county have been given a raw deal when it comes to matters pertaining maize purchases by the government through the National Cereals and Produce Board, given that they have concentrated on getting maize from outside the county. He appealed to the government to this time round consider buying maize from farmers and not businessmen who have taken advantage of purchasing maize elsewhere while others have taken advantage of the poor farmers within the county and purchased the maize from them at a cheaper price and later on rush to the cereals boards to sell them at a higher price.
He added the government should consider doing this given that some businessmen have taken advantage of poor farmers within the county by purchasing the maize at a cheaper price and later selling it to the Cereals Board at a higher price.
He however appealed to the agriculturists to desist from selling produce maize to middlemen and businessmen who are spread all over the County, adding that they should use their available time to prepare their maize well and sell them to the Cereals Board at the friendly price advertised by the government.
He thanked the government for raising maize price of 90kg of bag of maize from Kshs. 2300 to Kshs. 3000 saying it was a big boost to the sector. The price change was announced by Deputy President William Ruto.
The Deputy President had earlier on told residents to use the available opportunity and take their maize produce to the Cereal Boards, urging them to help identify genuine farmers to simplify the government’s purchases.
