- Ruto announced that NCPB driers will be used to dry farmers' maize at a minimal fee of Sh50 to reduce post-harvest losses over high moisture.
- This is from a high of nearly Sh400 a bag.
President William Ruto on Thursday banned the importation of wheat and maize to safeguard Kenyan farmers. https://bit.ly/3PN5b5g
Image: PCS
President William Ruto on Thursday banned the importation of wheat and maize to safeguard Kenyan farmers.
The President said that no permits will be issued to millers to import wheat or maize into the country.
In a statement, the president said the move is aimed at protecting local farmers.
"We ask our farmers not to sell their produce at throw-away prices," Ruto said.
"Even if farmers don’t want to sell their maize to NCPB, they will have an opportunity to dry their produce at the State agency and store it," he said.
He said the government will only deviate from the directive if the local produce is insufficient.
The President pointed out that the government will allocate Sh4 billion to buy maize from farmers.
He maintained that the move is aimed at stabilising prices.
Also in the meeting were Governors Patrick Ole Ntutu (Narok) and Jonathan Leleliit (Samburu), Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, MCAs and grassroots leaders.
Ruto announced that NCPB driers will be used to dry farmers' maize at a minimal fee of Sh50 to reduce post-harvest losses over high moisture.
This is from a high of nearly Sh400 a bag.
The President said a KCC milk plant will be constructed in Narok to improve milk quality to boost prices.
He was speaking on Thursday at State House, Nairobi when he met a delegation from Narok North Constituency led by its MP Agnes Pareiyo.
The President has on several occasions maintained that agriculture is the driver of the economy in the country.
He said the government is keen to stabilise agriculture to provide more food for Kenyans.
This is even as the government assured Kenyans that prices of unga are likely to start dropping this week to about Sh175 per two-kilo packet of maize flour.
Agriculture PS Kello Harsama said it is because the country has started receiving maize from Tanzania and Uganda.
“We are expecting a significant reduction of maize prices this week and also a decrease of unga prices. Maize prices are slowly decreasing from Sh6,000 per 90kg bag last week to about Sh5,000 this week. This decrease will soon be reflected in unga prices on the shelves. Some millers have reduced unga prices from Sh220 to Sh175,” he said.