Cereals board fails to buy maize
Farmers dry their maize in Eldoret. NCPB is failing to buy maize from farmers because the government owes it Sh5.6 billion, worsening a looming food crisis caused by poor long rains. PHOTO/FILE
What you need to know:
- Mr Terer disclosed plans to rebrand the cereals board to make it more efficient and serve farmers better. He said its name would be changed to the Grain Corporation of Kenya.
- A bag of fertiliser is selling for Sh3,000 in most shops in the region while the subsidised one distributed by the NCPB sells for Sh2,000.
The cereals board is failing to buy maize from farmers because the government owes it Sh5.6 billion, worsening a looming food crisis caused by poor long rains.
National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) managing director Newton Terer Wednesday said delays by the government to settle the debt was hampering efforts to buy last season’s produce, estimated at six million bags.
“Payment of this debt will enable us to mop up the maize,” said Mr Terer, adding that talks were in progress.
Mr Terer said the board had inadequate Strategic Grain Reserve stocks and the government planned to buy maize from neighbouring countries and allow duty-free imports by traders.
“The maize in our stores is insufficient and the situation is likely to be complicated by lower yields this season due to low rainfall in parts of the North Rift region and repeated outbreaks of the Maize Lethal Necrosis disease,” he said.
He was speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting at an Eldoret hotel on restructuring of the NCPB’s operations.
HIGH COSTS
Maize production in the North Rift is expected to fall by 20 per cent.
There are 2.5 million bags of maize in the NCPB reserves and, according to Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei, the country requires three million bags in the next two months.
Mr Terer disclosed plans to rebrand the cereals board to make it more efficient and serve farmers better.
He said its name would be changed to the Grain Corporation of Kenya.
Meanwhile, farmers in the North Rift whose crop was damaged by drought and disease are facing problems re-planting.
The farmers Wednesday appealed to the government to provide them with seed and subsidised fertiliser to replant.
“Lack of capital will make it difficult for most farmers to re-plant,” said Mr Wily Ng’eny, a farmer in Chepkumia, Nandi County.
The farmers complained about the high costs of seed and fertiliser.
A bag of fertiliser is selling for Sh3,000 in most shops in the region while the subsidised one distributed by the NCPB sells for Sh2,000.
Maize farmers in the region have been discouraged from applying DAP on maize due to increased soil acidity.
