Farmers in Uasin Gishu are protesting against the low price at which the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) is buying maize from them.
The move has prompted a section of farmers to decline to prepare their farms for planting maize despite this being the right time to do so.
“I don’t see the need of spending money to prepare my farm yet my store is full of maize that I harvested two seasons ago. In fact, a section of my maize has started rotting forcing me to feed some of the corn to my cows," said John Chirchir, a farmer in Maili Nne, Eldoret.
According to Chirchir, the Sh2,5000 price at which the government is buying a 90kg bag of maize is too low to cater for the cost of production of one sack.
He said the state of their maize plantations is hanging on the balance as the majority of farmers in the county have been demoralised by the low prices.
“The government is hampering food security efforts which is among its Big Four agenda. We plead with the relevant authority to pay farmers well so that the bulk maize stock does not get spoiled," said Noan Cheruiyot, a large scale maize farmer.
The National Cereal and Produce Board last week urged farmers to go on with their farm preparations, adding that payments are underway and farmers should submit their maize as soon as possible.
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