By Moses Nyamori
Eldoret, Kenya: Farmers in North Rift region have appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to save National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) from losing its assets to Erad Suppliers Limited.
Erad seeks to sell over 26 grain storages in Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret, Moi’s Bridge and other parts of the country to settle Sh500 million award by High Court over breach of contract. Farmers said the stalemate is a threat to food security. They urged President Uhuru to step in and rescue the board before its operations ground.
Moiben MP Silas Tiren said the Government should come out and protect the board. He noted that granting Erad the go-ahead to auction the board’s assets will adversely affected food production.
“Farmers depend on the facility for storage of cereals and for supply of farm inputs,” noted the MP.
Tiren faulted High Court for allowing Erad to freeze accounts of NCPB until the later pays the Sh500 million.
“Even if the board breached contract with the grain suppliers, the court ought to have thought well before giving the verdict. The ruling in favour of Erad will plunge this country into problems,” he added.
Agriculture Secretary Felix Koskei has warned that farmers could be forced to store their next harvest.
NCPB silos have storage capacity of 1.8 million metric tonnes, equivalent to 21 million 90kg bags of dry maize.
Kenya Farmers Association director Kipkorir Menjo wondered why the Government was silent over the issue, and appealed to the President to help the board.
Top-dressing
“The Government should stop behaving as if it is unable to handle the situation while it is aware of the adverse effects of the court tussle,” said Menjo.
Farmers are already feeling the pinch of the court battle. They are yet to receive Calcium Ammonium Nitrate fertiliser for top-dressing.
Trans-Nzoia County stands to lose over 15 million bags of maize this season due to lack of fertiliser for topdressing.
