Bags of maize at National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) silo. [Photo/businessdailyafrica.com]
Maize farmers in Nakuru have been urged to supply more maize to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
Nakuru NCPB silo manager Alfred Korir said although they have received up to 200,000 bags of maize under the strategic maize reserve, they are yet to hit the target.
Speaking on Wednesday, Korir said the produce was expected to be used in case of drought.
"This is emergency preparedness initiative that will be used in case the country faces another drought in future," he said.
Korir reported the board is buying each 50kg bag of maize at a price of Sh1,776.20.
The farmers, The Standard reports, have welcomed the price, saying they have been suffering losses from middlemen.
"For the past ten years, we have been selling maize to middlemen at very low prices," said Ben Kimemia, a farmer from Bahati sub-county.
Kimemia added that the presence of a ready market for maize will boost farming as they will have money to prepare farms and purchase inputs.Is there a newsworthy accident, incident or event happening in Nakuru County that you want Hivisasa to cover? Tell us what is happening by Joining this group, and have it published.https://chat.whatsapp.com/95YujjHI4FEB8l93eMQTdN