A section of Jubilee MPs led by Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter, Moiben’s Silas Tiren and Cherangany’s Joshua Kutuny has warned farmers in the Rift Valley region against buying into the idea of avocado farming.
Addressing journalists at Parliament building on Thursday, the MPs argued that those advising farmers to shift from maize to avocado are cartels who are trying to benefit themselves.
"The cartels who were telling farmers in the North Rift to abandon maize for avocado farming, are now trying to create an artificial shortage so that they can profit from its importation," said Keter, as quoted by the Standard.
This comes after another group of leaders from the North Rift region led by Deputy President William Ruto and Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago have asked farmers to shift focus to avocado farming which according to them has more profits.
The legislators further warned farmers of an impending maize scandal and asked the government to buy maize produced by farmers at Sh3,500 per 90kg sack.
According to the MPs, farmers have not supplied their produce to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) due to low maize prices.
They argued that the government should not import maize from other countries yet local farmers have over 25 million bags in their stores.