Gov’t to purchase 1 million bags of maize from local farmers at Ksh.4K per bag

The government of Kenya has announced plans to purchase 1 million bags of locally produced maize, at an improved price of Ksh.4,000 per 90-kilogram bag, following a bumper harvest by farmers.

Speaking on Thursday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mithika Linturi highlighted that the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) will be responsible for procuring the maize for the National Strategic Food Reserve.

Additionally, Linturi said the government has already purchased mobile dryers to aid farmers in the drying process of their grains before government procurement.

“The mobile dryers will enable farmers to preserve the quality of their maize and increase their income. This is a significant development, as post-harvest losses have been a major challenge for farmers in the past,” said Linturi.

Linturi further assured the Committee, chaired by Kirinyaga County Senator James Murango, that his ministry is actively tackling the issues surrounding macadamia nut production and marketing, with the ultimate goal of making the sub-sector more profitable.

“We are exploring international markets in a bid to ensure our farmers benefit from the macadamia sub-sector. My Ministry is committed to making the country food secure through improved food production and better earnings for all farmers,” added the CS.

Linturi's announcement comes just days after President William Ruto outlawed the issuing of permits to millers to import wheat or maize, in a move aimed at protecting local farmers and stabilising prices.

The President pointed out then that the government will allocate Ksh.4 billion to buy maize from farmers, stating; “We ask our farmers not to sell their produce at throw-away prices.”

The Head of State announced that NCPB driers will be used to dry farmers' maize at a minimal fee of Ksh.50 in a bid to reduce post-harvest losses over high moisture down from the current Ksh.400 per bag.

“Even if farmers don’t want to sell their maize to NCPB, they will have an opportunity to dry their produce at the State agency and store it,” Ruto said then.