A section of angry and frustrated maize farmers in the North Rift region have decided to turn their harvest into animal feeds.
This follows delays by the government to remit on time, payments for maize they supplied to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
Despite the government releasing Sh978 million to pay farmers for maize delivered to NCPB in the 2017/18 season, farmers feel they are fed up transacting with their own government despite Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri assuring them of their payments.
In several tweets on Friday, Kiunjuri said 227 farmers had received Sh200 million and payment of the balance of Sh778 million, accruing from last year's deliveries was being processed.
Despite such efforts by the government to settle farmers' dues, a number of those turning their produce into livestock feeds is rising by the day citing delays and frustrations from the government.
Daniel Kipkokelda, a farmer from Kaptuli Uasin Gishu County is the latest to turn the whole 200-acre maize plantation into silage for feeds.
Kipkokelda says his decision is sewed by frustration experienced by cereal farmers in getting paid for produce delivered to NCPB and low maize prices.
“I am still holding more than 200 bags of last year’s harvest in store and there was no way I could harvest and sell my maize to NCPB before I receive money for deliveries made 10 months ago. There are too many challenges facing maize farming and farmers are tired. Grains retail at as low as Sh1,200 per 90kg bag. When I sell the maize in form of silage, I might break even,” the farmer was quoted by a local publication.
He further blamed cartels and NCPB management for their woes.
“Maize is no longer a profitable venture as it used to be. Cartels and mismanagement in NCPB have led us to this quagmire,” he added.