Farmers' joy as National Cereals and Produce Board begins buying maize in all counties

Delivery of maize to over 100 depots under NCPB has started in earnest.

Delivery of maize to more than 100 depots under the management of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) has started in earnest.

Selling of the country’s staple food to the depots is going on in all the major maize-growing counties except Bungoma, where officials are said to be have closed offices and promised to resume next week.

Slow pace

NCPB Managing Director Newton Teres confirmed that screening of farmers is going on in all the opened depots where county officials and the officers of the board are carrying out the exercise.

“Even though the process started at a slow pace last week as counties had not organised themselves, it has picked up well this week except in Bungoma County where it has encountered a few hitches,” he said.

“We are monitoring the situation and ensuring that once farmers deliver their maize they are paid Sh2,300 per 90 kilogramme bag immediately, in addition to Sh500 per bag as compensation for the challenges of climate change,” added Mr Teres. He however. disclosed that some farmers have had their produce rejected due to poor quality.