National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) managing director Newton Terer during a two-day Africa Strategic Grain Reserve Conference at the Intercontinental Hotel on June 14, 2016. [Photo/nation.co.ke]
Farmers in Uasin Gishu county wants the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to hasten to process of payment of the produce they have delivered at their depots.
Led by the Kenya National Federation Of Agricultural Producers (KENFAP) Uasin Gishu branch chairman Musa Barno, the farmers have lamented over the delay in the payments.
They say the delay might affect their preparations for the upcoming planting season.
Speaking to the press in Eldoret on Thursday, the farmers said they are owed by NCPB over Sh1.3 billion for the maize supplied since December 20, 2017.
"They have only paid Sh213 million of the maize we've delivered and we are asking that the balance is released as soon as possible," noted Barno.
"We are now approaching February where we are supposed to start preparing our land for planting season and without this cash, farmers cannot do anything," he added.
The farmers also asked local leaders to help them in pushing for the NCPB to pay their produce quickly.
"Our MPs should know that most of their electorates depend on farming for everything and it's time they exercised their representation roles for having the money released," Barno added.