County steps in to buy maize from farmers

What you need to know:

  • Mr Dado made the announcement during a meeting at his office with a delegation of farmers from the irrigation scheme, Bura MP Ali Wario, Woman Representative Halima Ware and Agricultural Finance Corporation officials.
  • In a statement released after the meeting, the governor said his administration was looking for other markets and that the maize purchase by the county was a temporary measure to cushion farmers.
  • Ms Ware asked the county to put up maize mills to create a ready market for the farmers and add value to their produce.

The Tana River County Government will buy 20,000 bags of maize from Bura Irrigation Scheme farmers at a price above market value.

Governor Hussein Dado said the farmers who had a bumper harvest will sell their produce at Sh3,000 per bag, which is higher than the price offered by National Cereal and Produce Board.

Mr Dado made the announcement during a meeting at his office with a delegation of farmers from the irrigation scheme, Bura MP Ali Wario, Woman Representative Halima Ware and Agricultural Finance Corporation officials.

He added that the Agriculture department was working on ways of subsidising farm inputs such as fertilisers as part of the recently launched rapid results initiative set to be implemented within the next 100 days.

This ready market has encouraged farmers to increase their output this season.

In a statement released after the meeting, the governor said his administration was looking for other markets and that the maize purchase by the county was a temporary measure to cushion farmers.

The county government started the programme to buy maize from farmers last year, with the first beneficiaries being those in the Hola Irrigation Scheme.

“We stored the maize under very good condition and distributed it to Tana River residents as relief food during the last dry season,” said Mr Dado.

Mr Wario asked the county to build sheds so that maize can be stored safely.

Ms Ware asked the county to put up maize mills to create a ready market for the farmers and add value to their produce.