A section of farmers in Uasin Gishu county has hit out at the Cabinet for approving Sh2,300 as the price the government will be purchasing maize from farmers this season.
Speaking in Eldoret town on Friday, the farmers led by Uasin Gishu Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) director Kipkorir Menjo said the price cannot commensurate the cost of production they incurred.
"As farmers from the North Rift region we are really disappointed with the Cabinet decision, what will a farmer get from the price of Sh2,300, this is total sabotage," said Menjo.
The farmers further said they will not sell their maize to NCPB until the government increases the prices.
"What we want is Sh3,200 per bag. We cannot allow the government to always take us for a ride every now and then and yet agriculture is the backbone of the economy," added Menjo.
State House on Thursday said a Cabinet meeting had approved that the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) will purchase 2 million 90-kilogram bags of maize from farmers at Sh2,300 each.
This is despite local leaders and farmers calling for a review of the price that was first announced by the Strategic Food Reserve (SFR).
With a price of Sh2,300 per bag, it means the government will spend Sh4.6 billion in buying maize from farmers this harvest season.
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