Farmers give three-day ultimatum over fertiliser

Maize farmers from North Rift region demonstrate outside the National Cereals and Produce Board, Eldoret depot, last week. They were protesting failure by the board to take in more maize. [Photo: Peter Ochieng/STANDARD]

Uasin Gishu, Kenya: Farmers in the North Rift region have given the Government a three-day ultimatum to provide fertilisers at the Eldoret National Cereals and Produce Board depot.

The ultimatum comes after days of waiting for the fertilisers at the depot, and being informed that there were no more bags left.

"The rains are almost falling yet we have not received fertilisers. I have lined up for close to a week now with receipts showing that I have already paid for the fertilisers yet I have been told there is no more left," said farmer Paul Kipyego.

Mr Kipyego added that apart from the lack of the input at the depot, the farmers have also not received any payment after delivering maize to the Eldoret-based depot.

"We want the Government to intervene quickly on this issue or else we will stage a protest in three days," said Kipyego.

The farmers also claimed that they were informed by the NCPB officials that the fertiliser that is left in the depot allegedly belongs to an disclosed agent who sells it at Sh3,050 instead of the Government price of Sh1,800.

This follows last week's demonstrations by farmers in Kisumu and Eldoret depots after the board failed to buy more maize from them.

The farmers had lined up for 25 days awaiting to off load the produce only to be informed that the depots were not receiving any more maize.

board failure

The farmers were angered by the fact that the board did not issue them with a notice early enough showing it will not take in any more maize, yet they had camped for close to a month waiting to deliver the produce.

"We are doing our best to ensure that we get high yields from our farms. Why is the Government not supporting the farmer? We are not getting any profits from farming maize anymore because we have spent a lot of money paying for transport and also paying our drivers and off loaders," said Angelina Korir, a farmer in Moiben constituency.

Moiben MP Silas Tiren wants the Government to assess the entire North Rift region and find out the number of bags that have not been delivered to the NCPB depot.

"The Ministry of Agriculture should work with  Treasury to ensure they receive maize and promptly pay for it. The Government should also ensure it provides adequate fertiliser to the farmers in order to facilitate the planting process this season," said Mr Tiren.

The MP further said on expiry of the three-day notice, the farmers will resort to a protest if the Government does nothing.

"I believe there is economic sabotage in the agricultural sector. Why is this problem recurring every year during the planting season? I call upon the Government to look into this issue keenly," said Tiren.

The MP also wants the Government to deal with the cartels at the NCPB depots in order to prevent such a problem from recurring.