Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago has asked the Ministry of Agriculture to call for an urgent meeting to discuss on the government’s plan to offload up to 1.7 million bags of maize to millers.
The government recently revealed a plan to sell off old stock to millers, as a way to decongest the silos in readiness for the purchase of last year’s new yield.
Speaking at the sidelines of a maize task force meeting where farmers shared their views and concerns in Kapsabet on Wednesday, Mandago said the move to offload the old stocks to millers should not be rolled out until a discussion has been held.
“Let the Ministry and the Strategic Food Reserve (SFR) call us for a discussion then we shall agree on how these stocks will be sold. If millers get 1.7 million bags, they will mill and complicate market prices,” said Mandago.
It is reported that the old maize stocks will be sold at prices Sh1,600 per 90-kilogram bag, which is way much cheaper than what cereals board will buy new grain.
President Uhuru Kenyatta recently directed the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to start purchasing maize from farmers at Sh2,500 per bag.
“SFR is supposed to buy 2 million bags of new produce and if the millers already have enough stocks purchased from the government, then they will not bother to buy from the reserves anymore. We shall have lost the purpose and mandate of the national reserves which is supposed to stabilize prices,” added the county boss.
He further said that by selling the maize to millers, it will distort the prices of maize in the country.
#hivisasaoriginal