Moiben MP Sila Tiren has urged the National government through the Ministry of Agriculture to open the National Cereals and Produce for farmers to take their produce to prevent them from being exploited by middlemen.
Speaking in his office on Monday Tiren said farmers are being exploited by middlemen by buying their produce at a throwaway price that cannot compensate their cost of production, thus farmers running at a loss.
“I call upon the national government through the ministry of agriculture to hear the farmers cry and open the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) with an immediate effect to prevent farmers from further exploitation by middlemen,” he said
He said a 90kg bag of maize is now being sold to middlemen at a throwaway price of Sh1,000 which compares to the cost of production thus farmers have nothing to smile about.
“The national government should start buying maize from farmers if they really care about their welfare. We invest in our farms and with the poor prices in the market and government not buying maize from farmers, we are disappointed,” he said.
He said Uasin Gishu County produces over four million bags of maize and yet the government through the Ministry of Agriculture was allocated Sh2.7 billion which according to him is a drop in the ocean since only one million bags will be bought.
He urged the national and county governments to ensure that farmers get access to driers for them to dry their farm produces in this rainy season to prevent losses due to lack of proper drying that may lead to food insecurity.