More than ten maize buying centres will be set up in Uasin Gishu county in readiness by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to start buying maize from farmers this season.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri says the move is meant to make it easier for a farmer to sell his/her produce to the cereals board.
Speaking at the Eldoret NCPB depot on Monday, Kiunjuri further said the opening of more buying centres is part of the ministry's effort to curb cases of traders supplying the produce to the board at the expense of genuine farmers.
“We have agreed with the Uasin Gishu county that using the administrative channel we will ensure the centres are safe as security will be provided," said the CS
"The centres will have digital weighing machines. Aflatoxin will be taken care of and most importantly moisture content. Nobody will be allowed to transport maize an aggregation centre which is far away from his/her arm,” he added.
Kiunjuri further said the same buying centres will be used in the distribution of subsidized fertilizers to farmers.
This will be a relief to farmers who have in the past been forced to transport their produce to the NCPB depots in Eldoret or Moi's Bridge.
The CS also challenged investors to put up private driers at zero cost to help farmers from areas they cannot access the governments' facility.
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