Maize prices have gone up in most parts of Rift Valley and Western where middlemen are offering Sh2,900 per 90kg bag at the farm gate.
The farmers are yet to start delivering their produce to the National Cereals and Produce Board depots even after the board increased prices to Sh2,700 per 90kg bag.
A spot check at the depots in Eldoret, Moi’s Bridge and Kitale indicates that there have been no deliveries since the board opened the depots a month ago.
“The prices are higher in the open markets and most farmers will not sell to anyone who is offering low prices,” Kenya Farmers Association director Kipkorir Menjo said.
He said they anticipate prices will be even higher starting next month because there were no imports of the commodity from neighbouring countries.
NCPB managing director Joseph Kimote said they are yet to receive deliveries as expected.
The cereals board had initially opened the depots to start maize purchases from farmers at Sh1,305 per 50kg bag, but the farmers rejected the prices, terming them too low.
The board then offered Sh1,500 per 50kg and Sh2,700 per 90kg bag.
Farmers in the region want the maize prices increased to Sh3,400 per 90kg bag.
Maize farmers have also been demanding a meeting with Agriculture CS Peter Munya to discuss the prices.
“We want CS Munya to visit this region so that we discuss with him the issue of maize prices, subsidies and other matters causing production of maize to drop,” farmers' representative from Trans Nzoia, Kibet Maiyo, said.
The NCPB has said it will not increase maize prices any further but wants farmers to deliver their produce to its depots.
“That price is what we can afford and we urge farmers to deliver their produce. We have very little trickling in,” the CEO said.
Farmers' representative Christopher Kolum said, “What the NCPB is offering is still quite low and with that we cannot make any profits from our farming activities.”
He said the board and the government should always consult farmers before setting maize prices so that they agree on the best way forward that would protect farmers and enable them to produce more.
Edited by A.N
