Government asked to pay farmers for maize deliveries as rain sets for planting

ELDORET, KENYA: Delay by the government to release funds towards payment of last season's maize deliveries to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots could affect efforts by farmers to plant early as heavy rains start pounding the North Rift.
Most farmers flocked depots in the region to seek fertiliser so that they can take advantage of the early rain that have started pounding the region to plant this season's crop.
Moiben MP Silas Tiren joined farmers on Monday at the Eldoret NCPB depot and asked the treasury to promptly release Sh 1 billion that has been allocated for the purchase of maize.
"Farmers have worked hard to produce maize and I urge the treasury to release Sh 1 billion that has been approved for the purchase of maize delivered to the depots by farmers so that they can buy inputs and plant early for the current season," said Tiren.
The MP, in whose constituency, cereals production is predominant said farmers need to be paid on time so that they can plant their crop early and avert effects of diseases including Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND) whose effects are aggravated by late planting.
Tiren who was accompanied by Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) director Kipkorir Menjo said 600,000 bags of planting fertiliser have been received, saying farmers have no problem in accessing the subsidised input that goes at Sh 1,800 a bag.