After successfully pushing the government to release funds for maize supplied to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), a section of farmers from the North Rift region have now issued afresh demand.
The farmers led by Kimutai Kolum have asked the cereals board to open its doors so that they can start delivering their maize.
Speaking in Eldoret town on Monday, Kolum said by allowing farmers to start delivering their produce, it will help protect them against exploitation from self-centred middlemen who have already started buying maize from farmers at an extremely low price.
“We are calling on NCPB to open its doors and start buying maize from farmers since we are have started harvesting,” he said.
“As I am talking, farmers are selling their maize to middlemen at between Sh800-Sh1,000 per 90-kilogram bag. We want the NCPB to open its doors so that we can sell our maize at Sh3,200," added the farmer.
The farmers further petitioned the National government to devolve NCPB so that it is managed by county governments.
This, they said, will help do away with cartels who have been regularly accused of colluding with rogue NCPB officers to unfairly benefit from funds meant to purchase maize from genuine farmers.
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