• The announcement comes days after the Cabinet approved a memo by the Ministry to buy one million bags of maize from local farmers.
• The Cabinet approved Sh4 billion for the purchase of the commodity. The move will be a relief to maize across the country.
Image: MINAGRIC
The government has finally announced that it will buy a bag of 90kg of maize from local farmers at a cost of Sh4,000.
Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi said the grain will be purchased through the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) for the National Strategic Food Reserve.
The announcement comes days after the Cabinet approved a memo by the Ministry to buy one million bags of maize from local farmers.
The Cabinet approved Sh4 billion for the purchase of the commodity.
The move will be a relief to maize across the country, especially from the grain growing regions of North Rift and Western.
The CS, however, maintained that the NCPB will buy maize from registered farmers only.
“We will be buying the maize from registered farmers who are in our database,” Linturi said when he appeared before the Senate Agriculture Committee on Thursday.
He said the NCPB has already opened its doors to receive the grain.
“NCPB stores are ready to take in maize. We have calibrated the scales and we have ready driers,” he added.
However, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, who had sought answers from Linturi on status of importation of assorted foodstuff by the government, disputed the buying price.
"A farmer spends Sh5,500 to produce a bag of 90kg. That means for every bag of maize the government buys, a farmer loses Sh1,500,” Cherargei said.
But the CS said the prices are fair considering that the government has put in place interventions, including subsidised fertiliser, to reduce the cost of production.
He said the maize famers will be free to sell their produce to any other potential buyers who may offer better prices.
“You will not be forced to sell to NCPB. If you feel there are better prices outside there, you are free. The aim of the government is to stabilise prices,” he said.
The CS revealed that his ministry is currently procuring 100 dryers at a cost of Sh2.2 billion that will assist farmers in drying their grain before purchase by the government.
These dryers, Linturi said, will assist farmers in reducing post-harvest losses by ensuring their maize is properly dried and stored.
"The mobile dryers will enable farmers to preserve the quality of their maize and increase their income. This is a significant development, as post-harvest losses have been a major challenge for farmers in the past,” he added.
NCPB, he said, will charge farmers Sh70 to dry a 90kg of bag of maize.
Linturi further assured the committee chaired by Kirinyaga County Senator James Murango that his ministry is addressing the challenges in the state of macadamia nut production and marketing to ensure the sub-sector sector is profitable.
"We are exploring international markets in a bid to ensure our farmers benefit from the macadamia sub-sector. My Ministry is committed to making the country food secure through improved food production and better earnings for all farmers," the CS said.
The announcement comes just days after President William Ruto banned importation of maize and wheat into the country to protect local farmers.
The President also stated that the government has already set aside Sh4 billion to buy maize from farmers.
To reduce post-harvest losses over high moisture, the Head of State announced that NCPB driers will be used to dry farmers maize at a minimal fee of Sh50 per bag compared to the high fee of Sh400 per bag that was previously being paid by farmers.
"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," said the President last Friday at State House.