The government has committed to assist farmers. [Photo/dailymail.co.uk]
The government will cater for farmers’ cost of delivering and drying maize at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots to prevent post-harvest losses.
Agriculture principal secretary Richard Lesisyampe said that government has set aside Sh200 million to help maize farmers deliver and dry their produce at the NCPB stores to achieve the required moisture content.
Kenya Bureau of Standards demands that maize fit for human consumption should have a maximum moisture content of 13.5 percent.
“Government has allocated more than Sh200 million to support growers grappling with inadequate drying capacity. They will have their maize stored by the board until they need it. This is meant to reduce high levels of moisture,” said Lesiyampe.
Labour cost
But according to a source at the NCPB, the government is yet to release the funds.
Farmers are still paying to have their maize dried and stored in the warehouses.
Cereal Growers Association chief executive Anthony Kioko last week said farmers are grappling with the increased cost of labor in drying the maize as NCPB charges Sh34 per moisture unit per bag.
He said every harvesting season farmers have continued to suffer high post-harvest losses due to the unusually wet harvesting seasons which increase the percentage of rotten grain as well as the cost of labor in drying the maize.