Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno now says the government should be announcing in advance the maize prices before planting season.
This, the deputy county boss says will enable farmers to decide on whether they will get profit for planting maize.
Speaking in Eldoret on Monday, Chemno noted that it would be wrong for farmers to engage in a practice that will not be profitable to them.
“Before planting season begins we need farmers to know at what price the government will be buying maize so that they can decide if they will grow the crop or not,” he said.
“Waiting at the last minute to set a price is not good because it kills the morale of farmers,” added the deputy governor who registered his displeasure to the recently approved price of Sh2,300 per 90-kilogram bag.
Chemno said the price should be reviewed upwards so as to enable a farmer to make a profit and earn something out of his/her several months of hard work in the farm.
Several leaders, as well as farmers, have rejected a price of Sh2,300 approved by the Cabinet last month and have been pushing for an increase.
Last season, the government was purchasing a 90-kilogram bag of maize at Sh3,200, a price some elected leaders and farmers in the maize growing areas want to be retained even for this season.
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