Farmers in Uasin Gishu county are now demanding that all their maize be purchased before the government moves to Uganda for cheap import.
This is following reports that the government had reached a deal to purchase 6.6 million bags of maize from the neighbouring country at Sh2,200 per bag.
Speaking in Eldoret town on Monday, Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) Uasin Gishu branch director Kipkorir Menjo said the government must give local farmers the first priority before opting for imports.
He said farmers still had plenty in their stores and it would be ironical for the government to import the maize at their expense.
“Priority should be given to us by first ensuring all those who have delivered their maize at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) are paid and second allowing those still with the product to bring here,” said Menjo.
Already the government has used close to Sh10 billion to purchase maize and farmers want another Sh10billion set aside through a supplementary budget the government has presented to the National Assembly.
“As at now NCPB owes farmers about Sh4 billion and as you can see there are many of them waiting to deliver their produce so to ensure all the maize is paid we will need another Sh10 billion,” noted Menjo.
NCPB is buying a 90-kilogram bag of maize from farmers at Sh3,200.