Farmers selling maize at NCPB depot.[Photo/the-star.co.ke]
The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) has bought 1.6 million bags of maize from farmers.
The board bought the maize at an estimated Sh5.12 billion to replenish the country’s strategic grain reserve.
The deliveries have been boosted by prompt payments of Sh3,200 per 90kg bag, up from Sh3,000 last year, and waiving of drying fees.
The board has so far paid out Sh2.6 billion as more farmers deliver the produce due to the attractive price compared to Sh2,400 offered by middlemen.
“We shall be making payments for maize deliveries as we receive funds from the government but the process is so far encouraging,” said Mr Titus Maiyo, the NCPB corporate affairs manager.
“Policy inspectors have been deployed to our buying centres to ensure that the imported subsidised maize or crop from neighbouring countries do not end up in our stores,” he said.