Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has asked farmers not to hold on to the maize that they harvested earlier this year.
The DP says the country is currently facing a shortage of maize that has pushed prices of maize flour higher.
Speaking during the official opening of the Eldoret National ASK Show on Friday, March 3, 2023, the second in command warned that should farmers keep holding on to their produce, the government will have no option but to allow millers to import the product duty-free.
“Please farmers, release maize to the market because the prices are good now. Sell them and keep the money in the bank for future plans,” DP Gachagua pleaded with farmers.
“We are people who speak the truth and we must tell you the truth. If you keep that maize in the store, you will be caught with duty-free imports that will lead to a drop in the prices,” he added.
According to the Deputy President, should farmers release the maize that they have locally, the prices of flour will significantly drop.
The Cabinet in November 2022 approved the importation of duty-free maize. However, it said the imports will only come once locally available maize has been exhausted.
Cost of unga
In an attempt to attract more farmers to sell their produce and push the prices higher, the National Cereals and Produce Board last week announced an increase in prices for farmers delivering their produce for sale to Ksh5,600.
Meanwhile, the DP has affirmed the commitment of the Kenya Kwanza government to lower the cost of unga which has been a pain for many Kenyans.
He says the government’s plan to provide subsidies to farmers will in the end help reduce the price.
“When we took over power, the cost of unga was 230, but following our programs, we have reduced it to Ksh180 and soon. With the help farmers have received, we will reduce to around Ksh130,” noted the second in command.
The government is currently providing farmers with subsidized fertilizers at Ksh3,500 per 50-kilogram bag, from the Ksh6,500 that farmers were purchasing last planting season.
To further ensure farmers easily access the fertilizers, the DP asked the county government to work with NCPB and open sub-county stores where farmers can pick their inputs.
