Government announces Sh400 increase in wheat prices per bag

Narok wheat Farmers inspect some of the wheat being harvested at Ilmashariani (Photo: Courtesy)

The Ministry of Agriculture has announced an increment in wheat prices from Sh3,000 per 90kg bag to Sh3,400.

The development comes as production in the county is expected to drop by 50 per cent due to erratic rainfall.

Agriculture Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyampe said poor rains cut the production of wheat by half compared to last year, when farmers had a bumper harvest of 3 million bags.

The first harvest season is currently underway in the southern part of the county and production is anticipated to drop to about 1.2 million bags.

Dr Lesiyampe said to satisfy local demand, the Government would import more than 70 per cent of the cereals.

"This year, we are expecting as little as 1.2 million bags of wheat from Narok due to bad weather patterns," he said in Narok yesterday.

The PS was in the county to witness the release of more than 1,000 title deeds to farmers by the Agricultural Finance Corporation.

Local farmers led by Narok Wheat Farmers Association chairman Lesiamon Koonyo said the price increase would motivate the farmers as they anticipated lowered production.

"We had many sittings with Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett and PS Lesiyampe over the prices," said Mr Koonyo.