Farmers will now enjoy better prices after the National Cereals and Produce Board announced they will buy maize at Sh5,600 per 90kg bag.
The price has been increased from the current Sh5,100 per 90kg bag of maize.
This was revealed on Thursday when the NCPB management appeared before the Public Investment, Social Services Administration and Agriculture Committee of the National Assembly.
The NCPB director general Joseph Kimeto said they have enhanced the prices, giving farmers a major reprieve after a public uproar.
“Right now, we are open, and farmers can transact with us. The price was Sh5100 for a 90kg bag, but we have reviewed it to Sh5600,” he stated.
“Any farmer who can deliver on that price we pay it in cash through M-Pesa transaction so there’s no delay at all,” Kimeto said.
Farmers have been complaining that they were being set up for losses after the government announced it had lifted the ban on the importation of duty-free maize.
The government plans to distribute 6 million bags of subsidised fertiliser before the end of the planting season in the North Rift, South Rift and Lake Basin areas.
“The target is to ensure the supply is made on time between now and the planting time which is in the next month,” he said.
“Now people are saying they are smelling rain so now we are going to reap big. We are working with the county governors and elected leaders in this initiative."
