Farmers in Uasin Gishu now want the Strategic Food Reserve (SFR) to buy maize at Sh3,600.
Led by the Uasin Gishu Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) Director Kipkorir Menjo, the farmers said this will help cater for the cost of production.
"As farmers from Uasin Gishu, we want SFR to at least buy maize from farmers at Sh3,600, this will give them morale to produce more," Menjo said.
Menjo spoke during a farmers' meeting in Eldoret town on Tuesday, where SFR board members were getting views from farmers on the price they want the government to buy maize.
"As I am talking, the cost of production for one acre is over Sh45,000 and it's sad that after harvesting we cannot get even half of the cost of production," he said.
Speaking during the meeting, SFR chairman Noah Wekesa said his team will ensure farmers get value for their money, by buying maize at the best prices.
He said factors such as cost of production, lack of farm inputs among others will be factored in while coming up with maize buying prices
Wekesa further noted that the price of buying maize will be announced this month after consultation with farmers across the country.
In 2018, the Strategic Food Reserve bought a 90-kilogram bag of maize from farmers at Sh2,300.