Soy Member of Parliament Caleb Kositany has now explained why the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) is yet to start purchasing maize from farmers as directed by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Speaking at his constituency on Friday, Kositany said currently there is an ongoing vigorous process of vetting farmers, an exercise that has caused the delay in the opening of the cereals stores.
He said the process is meant to ensure only genuine farmers deliver their produce to NCPB unlike previously where traders masqueraded as farmers and delivered the maize at the expense of genuine ones.
“We have gone through a very vigorous and transparent vetting process. We are hoping that the process would be finalized as soon as possible for the stores to be opened,” said the MP.
“In the fight against corruption, everything has to be done according to the law, therefore, everybody is very careful so that he/she may not fall into the trap of buying maize from cartels,” added the legislature.
Kositany also asked farmers to remain patient as NCPB and relevant government agencies work on start purchasing maize from farmers.
He also defended a decision to limit the purchase of maize per farmer to only 400 bags noting that it was as a result of the government targeting small scale farmers.
He also said that NCPB delayed in acquiring gunny bags, therefore, called on farmers exercise little patience as things are put in order.
The government is expected to purchase about 2 million bags of maize from farmers at Sh2,500 per 90-kilogram bag.
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