Uhuru orders cereals board to buy maize
What you need to know:
- The 90kg bag has dropped from Sh2,000 early this month and Sh3,200 in May, allowing millers to reduce flour prices. However, the President asked them to reduce flour prices further.
- The cereals board expects Sh2.7 billion from the government to buy maize. The President did not state the price at which farmers will be paid for the maize.
President Kenyatta Monday directed the National Cereals and Produce Board to start buying maize to alleviate the financial burdens of farmers.
The President said farmers in the country’s grain basket would start benefiting soon.
“Our farmers have been selling maize at low prices, which has resulted in their suffering. Today, I directed NCPB to start buying from farmers,” he said at the Kenya Navy headquarters in Mtongwe, Mombasa, where he presided over the force’s celebrations to mark 50 years of existence.
The cereals board expects Sh2.7 billion from the government to buy maize. The President did not state the price at which farmers will be paid for the maize.
On Sunday, during thanksgiving prayers at Turbo, Deputy President William Ruto promised that the government would step in to ensure farmers got good prices for their crop.
Maize prices in western Kenya have fallen by a quarter to Sh1,500 since the start of the month, with brokers taking advantage of the absence of the NCPB in the market.
FLOUR PRICES
The 90kg bag has dropped from Sh2,000 early this month and Sh3,200 in May, allowing millers to reduce flour prices. However, the President asked them to reduce flour prices further.
“Millers promised that if we reduced the cost of electricity they would also cut the retail prices of flour, but we have not seen this happen yet they continue to exploit farmers by buying maize at low prices.
“Every businessman should ensure they do their business in a fair way. We do not want to see either consumers or farmers being exploited,” he said.
The President praised the Kenya Navy for maintaining professionalism, which had earned them recognition as one of the best in Africa.
“Today our navy remains true to the values and dedication of its founders. We are proud of the navy’s achievement and its contribution to the nation’s security,” he said.
“When the instability in Somalia threatened our national security it became imperative for our nation to secure our borders and as part of security, the navy’s contribution has been important.”
