Almost a month ago, the board opened its depots and wanted to buy maize at Sh1,305 per 50kg bag, but farmers rejected the price,
The board has now increased the prices to sh 1,500 per 50 Kg bag and sh 2,700 per 90kg.
The National Cereals and Produce Board has increased maize prices to Sh1,500 per 50kg bag and Sh2,700 for a 90kg bag.
Almost a month ago, the board opened its depots and wanted to buy maize at Sh1,305 per 50kg bag, but farmers rejected the price, saying it was too low. They refused to deliver maize to the depots.
NCPB managing director Joseph Kimote said they initially planned to buy 500,000 bags of 50kg, but the board will now review the purchase at depots in major producing areas.
He said the board will continue to review the purchase plan depending on the resources available.
Kimote said the purchase was part of its commercial stock to be bought on a willing buyer, willing seller basis.
Farmers in the region welcomed the price review but said it was still low.
Moiben MP Sila Tiren, who is also the chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, met with the farmers' representatives.
He said the price must be set with consideration to the cost of farming. Tiren said President Uhuru Kenyatta should direct the NCPB to increase prices and buy not less than two million bags from farmers in the region.
“For farmers to be at least comfortable and get back their cost of production, the price per 50kg bag should not be less than Sh1,700 and double for the 90kg bag,” Tiren said.
The NCPB has said it was using its own commercial funding, not money from the government, to buy maize.
“We have reviewed the prices in consideration with a view from the farmers as that is what we can do at the moment,” Kimote said.
Counties in the region have lamented that maize production was reducing every year because of challenges experienced by farmers, especially poor prices and lack of markets.
Kenya Farmers Association director Kipkorir Menjo said they had previously suggested to the government several ways of reducing the cost of production.
The farmers now want the government to reintroduce subsidies for fertiliser and zero-rate farm equipment.
“We also want policies that will ensure we produce at costs that will enable us to compete with farmers from neighbouring countries,” Menjo said.
Another representative, David Kiprono Kiberenge said the cost of production was a major hindrance to food security in the country. He said agriculture cannot be mechanised with the high costs of farm equipment.
Edited by A.N