Leaders from North Rift have challenged the national government to increase the budgetary allocation meant for agriculture from the current Sh2.7 billion to at least Sh3.7.

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The meeting that brought together farmers and their political leaders led by Uasin Gishu County Governor Jackson Mandago, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos, Nandi Senator Stephen Sang, Moiben member of parliament Silas Tiren ,was meant to  discuss challenges facing farmers in the region.

Speaking during a consultative meeting in Eldoret on Monday, Kenya farmers Association Director Kipkorir Menjo said that farmers have always been taken for a ride through inadequate funding, yet agriculture is the back bone of the economy and source of livelihood.

“We are a signatory of the Maputo declaration which states that agriculture should be given at least 10% of the national budget, but in Kenya it is the other way round where agriculture is only given 4%, while other sectors are given a lot of funding,” said Menjo.

Menjo questioned why the government should invest Sh3.5 billion for the Pilot project of Galana irrigation scheme, and yet agriculture, which has been tried and tested is given only Sh2.7 billion for the entire farmers in the country.

“The project should have been given at least Sh2 billion for a start and the rest channeled to agriculture sector, which not only serves as a source of food but also source of employment for many jobless Kenyans,” he added.

The leaders urged farmers to join cooperatives societies, which will comprehensively solve their problems of supply of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers at a subsidized price, thus reducing the cost of production.

“Going the cooperative society way is the only remedy for problems that has been facing farmers such as production and post-production cost thus increasing productivity,” he added.

They further urged the national government to be releasing the Sh6.7 billion meant for buying maize from farmers on time, to avoid them from being siphoned by middlemen who buy their produce at a lower case.

“National Cereals and Produce Board should be allowed to sell overstayed maize which dates back up to 2008 and yet they claim there is no space for them to purchase maize from farmers thus denying farmers to submit their produce,” they reiterated.