Deputy President William Ruto has directed the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), the Strategic Food Reserve (SFR) and the Ministry of Agriculture to announce prices government will buy maize from framers by next week.

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Speaking during the first anniversary of Eldoret Catholic Diocese Bishop Cornelius Korir on Saturday, Ruto said announcing maize prices will prevent farmers from being exploited by middlemen.

“I have instructed relevant government agencies to found out how maize in our farms will be sold and for how much for farmers to deliver their produce to NCPB,” he said.

The DP said the government will not allow a repeat of mistakes which occurred last year where traders sold their maize to NCPB and were paid promptly at the expense of genuine farmers.

“The maize which will be bought is from Kenyan farmers and not from brokers, merchants, and businessmen and I have given firm instructions that local farmers should benefit from their sale of maize,” he insisted.

He also said the government had released Sh2.1 billion to pay farmers who delivered their maize to NCPB.

The government was purchasing a 90-kilogram bag of maize from farmers at Sh3,200.

Ruto, however, advised farmers in the North Rift, the country's food basket, to diversify by planting high-value alternative crops such as avocado, coffee, and cabbages which will earn them extra income.

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