Kenya: Plans by the State to import maize from Tanzania have received criticism from a section of cereals farmers in the North Rift region, who have said the deal is 'ill-timed'.
Farmers who spoke to The Standard yesterday said the importation will coincide with the harvesting period and lead to a glut in the market, thus hurting local farmers. The farmers said pricing for the commodity will drastically drop when they have already spent heavily on inputs to produce grains.
At the same time, maize producers said the Government had allowed the private sector to import maize when some farmers are yet to be paid for their deliveries to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) in the last season.
"Some farmers will start harvesting soon, so allowing maize imports may affect pricing and discourage local producers," said Ruth Kemboi, a local farmer and also the Kenya National Farmers Federation (Kenaff), Uasin Gishu Branch treasurer.
UNUSED STOCK
Ms Kemboi claimed there are still maize stock in government galleries, and that farmers and millers still had enough stocks, which ought to be exhausted before flooding the market with imports.
"NCPB cereals in Eldoret and Turbo are still stocked and the Government should not allow imports yet. Instead they should be ready to buy maize from farmers once they start harvesting this season's crop," said Kemboi.
But Kipkorir Menjo, a director with Kenya Farmers Association argued that it is better for the Government to import maize now to bridge the current deficit, but the move should be discouraged in future.
"We should not be having such situations because it is the responsibility of the Government to buy adequate maize stocks from local farmers to meet any shortages," said Menjo.
He said the Government has not paid some farmers for the maize delivered to NCPB depots, saying this had denied them the opportunity to expand the sector.
Menjo also said the government should control the amount of imports so that local farmers are protected from poor prices for their produce.
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