Deputy President (DP) William Ruto has asked farmers to sell their maize produce to the government instead of selling to middle men whom he said could be exploiting them.
Speaking in Eldoret town, Ruto said that the government has opened its maize depots and that farmers should sell their produce to the State to get better pay.
Ruto disclosed that the government has enough money to buy maize from farmers adding that negotiations to buy maize at good prices were still on.
“We want maize farmers to get better value of their maize produce, farmers should take their maize to government depots,” said Ruto.
He added that the government is keen on promoting agriculture saying that farmers will be supplied with subsidised farming inputs starting next year.
Ruto also observed that agriculture is the backbone of the country and that the government would set aside enough money to buy food to put in store for security purposes.
“Food insecurity is a real challenge to us, therefore the government has started programmes including irrigation to promote agriculture as a way of getting prepared for the worse when hunger strikes,” added Ruto.
Ruto disclosed that farmers across the country will be educated on better farming methods with the aim of improving the country’s agricultural production.
This comes at a time leaders from North Rift have been urging the government to buy maize at better prices so that farmers could benefit from their hard work.
Weeks before, the government announced that it will be buying a 90 Kg sack of maize at Sh2,300, amount farmers feel is too small.
Turbo MP Elisha Busienei said that Sh2,300 for a sack of maize was too small and that the government should factor in other logistics involved in the production before arriving at that price.
“The government should be buying maize between at a price ranging between Sh3,500 and Sh4,000 per 90 Kg sack,” said Busienei.
Uasin Gishu County is among the country’s top producers of cereals including maize and is considered as the country’s food busket.