A section of farmers in Uasin Gishu county has threatened to hold a major demonstration in Eldoret town to express their displeasure over the delay in releasing money for the produce they supplied to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
Led by the county’s Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) Director Kipkorir Menjo, the farmers have issued the Ministry of Agriculture with a 7-day ultimatum to release the over Sh3 billion or else they will start the demonstration.
Addressing a media briefing in Eldoret town on Monday, Menjo hit out at the Jubilee government for ignoring them over their payments pleas.
He revealed that majority of the farmers who supplied their produce to NCPB are now facing financial challenges following the delay in the release of the money.
“Many of us have loans at AFC who are now on our necks. Auctioneers are threatening to dispose of our properties yet we have funds we are supposed to be paid,” he lamented.
“We thought NCPB will liaise with AFC and see how the loans can be cleared using that money but that is not being done,” he added.
The cereal farmers also took issue with the recently tabled National government budget which indicated that only Sh1.4 billion had been set aside for the purchase of maize.
“What is 1.4 billion? That amount is only enough to pay 10 farmers yet we are in hundreds,” said Menjo.
Farmers in the North Rift have been up in arms over delays in releasing money for the maize and wheat they supplied to NCPB since late December last year.
There have been issues surrounding the money especially after revelations that some traders supplied maize they had imported to NCPB and were paid promptly at the expense of farmers.