Maize farmers in the North Rift on Thursday suffered yet again as it was made clear that no more of their maize will be bought by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
NCPB announced that it had spent so much and therefore had reached its budget limit.
According to the secretary, State Department of Crops, Harsama Kelio, the Ministry of Agriculture has exhausted its budget for purchasing maize and therefore will not be buying any more maize from the farmers.
Efforts will now be focussed on paying farmers for the maize that has already been delivered, added Kelio.
"We will not accept any more maize now until further notice," declared Mr. Kelio.
He asked farmers to wait as the board inquires from the Treasury whether to buy more maize or not. Otherwise, he said that NCPB had reached its buying limit and will not be spending more billions in what had been delivered.
"Maybe we make another announcement because we have to create a proper green light from the treasury whether to continue buying or not. However, we have hit our limit.
"We have spent billions and billions of shillings buying what has already been delivered. But what we are seeing is a production going beyond our expectation, beyond our planning, beyond our budget," he added.
Farmers who had not delivered their produce at the NCPB will now be forced to sell their produce to millers at most likely a lower price.
NCPB has been purchasing maize at Sh3,200 per 90kilogram bag.