An NCPB depot.[Photo/the-star.co.ke]
Farmers have been paid an additional Sh500 million for maize supplied to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
This latest amount released on Monday brings to Sh3.6 billion the money that has been paid to farmers since NCPB started the purchasing exercise last year in November.
According to NCPB managing director Newton Terer, the board has so far purchased 1.8 million bags of maize out of the targeted two million.
“As it is now, we only owe farmers Sh2 billion from the 1.8 million bags of maize that we have so far purchased,” said Mr Terer.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyampe says the ministry will release additional funds once the Sh5 billion that had earlier been allocated for the exercise is exhausted.
“The Sh5 billion was meant to purchase two million bags, however, we are not going to lock farmers out, we will purchase all maize that they have.