NCPB stores in Nakuru.[Photo/Nation]
Farmers in Nakuru County are demanding payment of over Sh300 million for maize supplied to the National Cereals and Produce Board.
The board owes more than 1,000 farmers and the debt has accumulated from the months of November and December last year.
The board received the supplies under the national government’s initiative of strategic grain reserve that was to be used during drought and famine.
Lawrence Mungai, a farmer, said the board was buying a 90kg bag of maize for Sh3,200 and although the initiative of supplying the produce to government stores saved farmers from exploitation by brokers, non-payment of their dues was affecting them.
Ben Kimemia said he had supplied more than 5,000 bags and was discouraged because of delayed pay and he also added that for the past 10 years he has been selling maize to middlemen a low price.
NCPB has noted that the stores only had 200,000 bags of maize and they were to receive more from farmers so as to feed the nation during the prolonged dry spell.
NCPB is purchasing a 50kg bag of maize at Sh1, 776.20, which has made the farmers happy and they said they had been suffering losses due to middlemen.
Nakuru County harvested only 30 per cent of the expected maize. The shortage could cause food insecurity at the household and national levels.