NCPB to construct maize buying centre

The National Cereals and Produce Board will set up a modern maize storage and buying centre in Lare Division, Njoro District in Nakuru to help wean farmers from middlemen, who fleece them.

The facility will also store farm inputs to reduce the costs for farmers, who sometimes have to travel to Nakuru to buy them.

The board’s managing director, Prof Gideon Misoi, said a temporary office would start operations in the area in a weeks’ time as arrangements are made to construct a permanent structure.

Renovate a building

He said the board was committed to helping growers access services at an affordable fee.

The manager said the board would renovate a building at Lare trading centre, where farmers would buy fertilisers and dispose of farm produce.

The last centre in the area was a make-shift structure put up in 1980, but was neglected and abandoned by farmers.

According to the divisional agricultural extension officer, Mr  James Mwangi, Lare Division has more than 6,000 maize farmers who have cultivated 1,650 hectares. They are expected to harvest 74,250 bags this season.

“NCPB will construct a Sh6 million modern silo and a buying centre to enable you reap maximum benefits by accessing cheap fertilisers and certified seeds,” said Prof Misoi.

He spoke to farmers’ representatives at the Lare district officer’s office on Thursday last week during a tour of the area following a question asked in Parliament by the area MP, Mr Joseph Kiuna.

The buying centre and silo comes as a big relief to farmers, who have had to content with uncertified seeds and poor quality fertilisers sold by middlemen.

“For a long time, our harvests have been declining. We have been unable to buy fertiliser from NCPB as what is sold here is mixed with sand,” said Mr Michael Kamau, a farmer in the area.

He said many growers were spending a lot of time travelling to Nakuru, more than 60 kilometres away, to purchase fertiliser, incurring more expenses.

“I bought 20 bags of fertiliser at the NCPB offices in Nakuru town, but it took one week to get the input and it was not even enough. I had to buy more from middlemen at the inflated price of Sh3,950 instead of Sh2,500 at NCPB,” said the farmer.

Another grower, Mr Hezron Ngige, said the fertiliser sold at the centre by crooked middlemen was of poor quality.

“This has discouraged many young and unemployed youths in this area who would like to venture into farming as a business,” said Mr Ngige.

Venture into farming

Prof Misoi urged the youth to venture into farming as they were endowed with modern farming techniques, unlike their parents who had no formal education.

“The youth should take an active role in farming to improve food production and fight hunger in the country.

This is the right time as we have brought services closer to them,” he said.

He added that the new centre “will change the pattern of farming in Lare as young people will now take it seriously and boost food production.”

Many farmers in the area own between two-and-a-half and 10 acres and plant maize, beans, sorghum, millet, and peas.

According to statistics from the divisional agriculture office, in 2011 farmers harvested 72,000 bags of maize and 10,000 bags of beans.

Prof Misoi assured farmers that with the construction of the silo and opening of a buying centre,  farmers would also access other value-addition services, including drying and storage.

“If you have a bumper harvest and do not have adequate storing facilities, do not hesitate to approach our officers on the ground who will help you store your produce in a safe and secure environment,” he said.

At least 30 per cent of maize harvested in the country, which translates to about 12 millions bags, goes to waste due to poor post-harvest management.

NCPB has more than 100 silos in Kenya with a holding capacity of 20 million bags of maize. South Rift Valley alone has more than 30 silos, with silos in Nakuru having a capacity of 1.6 million bags.

The board has also introduced the warehouse receipt system, although most farmers have yet to embrace it.