A section of farmers in Uasin Gishu County has expressed opposition to plans by the government to import 10 million bags of maize.
Led by the county’s Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) Director Kipkorir Menjo, the farmers say it is premature for the government to import maize at a time they are harvesting their produce.
In a media briefing in Eldoret town on November 21, 2022, the farmers said any planned maize importation should be halted until what is locally available has been exhausted.
Menjo further said the earliest the government can think of allowing traders and millers to import maize should be in March 2023.
“It has been a tradition that the government imports maize only after what is available locally has been exhausted. What was used to reach the figure of 10 million bags yet farmers are in the middle of harvesting season?” the KFA director asked.
“Why the hurry now? Why is the Trade CS (Moses Kuria) the one talking about maize importation and not the one in charge of Agriculture?” he added.
The farmers have also challenged elected leaders from the North Rift region to take the lead in ensuring no maize is imported before what is available locally has all been bought.
Hoarding maize
Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria recently hinted that the government would allow duty-free importation of GMO and non-GMO maize.
“It has never happened that a government imports maize when farmers are harvesting,” said David Kiprono Kiberenge.
According to the farmers, should the government make good plans to import maize, prices are likely to fall.
A 50-kilogram bag of maize currently costs as high as Ksh5,300.
But even as farmers demanded that what is available be mopped up first before going the importation way, CS Kuria announced on Monday that the government will not be purchasing maize from farmers.
In a tweet, the CS noted that the only maize the government will buy will be for the Strategic Grain Reserves (SGR).
He further claimed farmers were hoarding up to 20 million bags of maize.
“It is estimated that farmers are sitting on 20 Million bags of Maize. Let them release it to the Millers. You can call me if no Miller is buying your maize. It is further expected that the farmers are about to harvest 35 Million bags in the next 2 weeks. Urgently deliver that to the Millers and so they will not need to import,” Kuria said in a series of tweets.
Salient points about Maize
1. GoK will not buy maize directly or indirectly other than for Strategic Reserve. (CONTINUEDl
— CS Moses Kuria (@HonMoses_Kuria) November 21, 2022
