The five NASA principals at Kisii's Gusii Stadium, May 17, 2017. [Photo/Raila Odinga/Facebook]
ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi has criticised the Jubilee government's move to import maize.
According to him, the government declined to help out farmers when they required sufficient seeds and fertilisers to plant, on grounds that the budget was tight.
He wondered how come the government would use so much money to import maize from Mexico, yet it had warned it lacked sufficient funds, to ensure farmers grow enough maize, for food security.
According to Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett, the government will inject Sh6 billion into the subsidised programme by selling a 90 kg bag of maize to millers at Sh2,300 to cushion farmers against the high costs.
He said imported maize would cost Sh3,600 for a 90kg bag but the price would be subsidised to Sh2,300.
Currently, a 90kg bag of maize costs Sh4,620 locally and Sh4,300 in the region.Bett indicated 2.9 million bags of maize would be imported in June and 1.2 million in July, even as a 29,900 maize consignment from Mexico docked at the Mombasa Port, May 11.
"We want to know where they got the Sh6 billion they are using for maize imports, yet they declined to support farmers, saying there was no money. Where did they get the funds,'' said the Nasa co-principal.
Speaking at the Gusii stadium in Kisii, Wednesday, Mudavadi indicated: "They should support local farmers instead of running for imports.''