Maize farmers in North rift reject new price, interrupt DP William Ruto’s speech

Pacifika Nyakara removes chaff from green maize she is selling at the Kisii County market. Maize farmers in North Rift region are an unhappy lot following announcement of the commodity’s prices by the Government. [PHOTO: DENISH OCHIENG/ STANDARD]

ELDORET: North Rift farmers have rejected the new maize prices, saying they are not "friendly".

The farmers said the new price of Sh2,300 per 90kg bag announced by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) would only benefit middlemen. They asked the Government to pay between Sh3,100 and Sh3,300 for their produce claiming the cost of production was too high.

During a media briefing in Eldoret town Monday, the farmers said the maize sector was negatively affected by poor policies despite its enormous economic importance. On Saturday, the farmers interrupted Deputy President William Ruto's speech during a public rally by chanting "bei bei" (price) in reference to the delay in announcing the official maize buying price by NCPB.

"Relax, the new prices will be announced on Monday since we have an able team that will steer the maize industry without burdening the farmers," Mr Ruto told them.

But the announcement was not well-received. According to Wilson Yego, a farmer in Kaprobuu in Uasin Gishu County, the prices are discouraging because they would not break even after deducting the production cost.

"The current economic reality in the country has made maize farming very expensive and when you compare the production cost with the new price, there is nothing to smile about," Mr Yego said.

He claimed that to produce a 90kg bag of maize, one needed over Sh2,500 and if you deducted the amount announced by the Government (Sh2,300) farmer make only Sh200.

 ANTICIPATED LOSES

"Maize farming is becoming a burden because of the anticipated losses when we sell the produce to NCPB," he added.

Kim Kolum, a farmer in Soy, is worried he might not be able to pay his bills and even plant maize next season.

"Maize is our sole source of income and we fear we will not meet our daily demands and even take our children to school next year. The President should come to our rescue and increase the price to Sh3,000 and above," Mr Kolum said.

He said middlemen are having a field day buying their produce at a throwaway price since they know farmers have no other alternative. Kenya Farmers Association Director Kipkorir Menjo, said the projected maize harvest in the region is over 10 million bags and it required over Sh6 billion for purchase.

"The Government should channel the funds meant for the Galana irrigation scheme to buy the maize because the project is not profitable and we heard it produced only 10 bags per acre as compared to over 30 bags per acre in the North rift," Mr Menjo said.

He added that the Maputo Declaration, which advocates allocating 10 per cent of the total national budget to agriculture, should be implemented to cushion farmers from losses. A paltry three per cent was factored in this fiscal year.

 IMPORT TRACTORS

"We appreciate the fact that NCPB depots have been opened but our main challenge at the moment is the money, which will not adequately cater for the produce," he stated. Menjo said the Government had announced it would import tractors from Brazil and subsidise farm inputs to lower the production cost but that the promise was yet to be fulfilled.

He challenged MPs to prepare a supplementary budget to increase the allocation meant to buy maize from farmers. "We will not engage the Government into street protests over poor prices," he said.