A section of farmers from maize growing counties in the North Rift region has hit out at Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri following his recent move to lower unga prices.
Kiunjuri recently directed traders to sell a 90-kilogram packet of maize flour at Sh75 from the previous Sh90.
The move has however not gone down well with farmers in the North Rift who claim it has caused a drastic drop in maize prices.
“We are really disappointed with Kiunjuri, why should he come up with such policies without consulting farmers? As I am talking a 90 of maize kg bag is now being sold at Sh1,000,” the Uasin Gishu Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) director Kipkorir Menjo told the press in Eldoret, Monday.
“Who complained about the prices that led the CS to reduce the prices from Sh75. This is just a scheme to favour millers and exploit farmers who work hard to feed the country,” he added.
The farmers further asked Kiunjuri to announce maize prices and open the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) so as to prevent farmers from being exploited by middlemen.
On pending pay for maize already supplied to NCPB, the farmers hit out at the government for deceiving them that they will be paid Sh1.4 billion within a week.
“We have only received Sh978 million yet they promised us Sh1.4. We are also told that the Sh2.1 billion balance will be paid in a months time, is this government really serious with farmers issues,” wondered former Eldoret South MP Jesse Mais who is also a farmer.
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