Agriculture CS Willy Bett at a past event. [Photo/ Willy Bett]Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett has asked large-scale maize farmers in agricultural counties in the North Rift region to consider delivering their produce at the Kisumu and Bungoma National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots for purchase.This, the CS said will enable small-scale farmers in the region to deliver their produce at depots in Eldoret and Kitale.Speaking after visiting Eldoret NCPB depot on Saturday, Bett assured farmers across the country that all their produce will be bought by the government.He noted that last week, the government released sh1 billion to facilitate payment for the already delivered produce."Kisumu and Bungoma NCPB depots have enough space and I am asking those large-scale farmers to take their produce there and allow smaller farmers deliver here in Eldoret, Moisbridge and also in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County," Bett said.The CS further pointed out that free drying of farmer's produce by the board was the reason for the slow intake but expressed optimism that the pace will increase due to the current favorable weather condition.Some farmers whose lorries are lined up at the Eldoret NCPB depot had last week complained of the slow movement of the queue."The reason things have not moving quickly is that the maize being delivered had to be dried first but with the rainy season now past us, we believe things will speed up." "..but farmers have no reason to worry because we will buy all their produce as there is sufficient fund set aside for this exercise," Bett said.

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