2022 Uasin Gishu gubernatorial aspirant Amb. Prof. Julius Bitok has challenged Members of Parliament to come up with legal provisions that will ensure maize farmers are protected from exploitations.
Prof. Bitok who is the Kenyan Ambassador to Pakistan notes that maize farmers have for a long time been exploited by middlemen as a result of a lack of relevant policies that protect them.
In a post on his official Facebook page, the former Moi University lecturer expressed concerns over how things have changed from when farmers would be in high spirits during harvesting season to the current situation where it is all depression and despair.
The politician had on Tuesday joined farmers in harvesting maize in the Chebarus area, Kiplombe Ward, in Turbo Sub County.
“This reminds me many years ago when this was the season farmers would smile to their banks after a bumper harvest, little did we know some years down the line it would turn to be a season of depression & despair to our farmers,” noted Amb. Bitok.
He said farmers deserve nothing but good market prices for their products, keeping in mind that they toil under difficult circumstances to ensure the country has sufficient food.
“Our MPs should put in place policies that will protect our farmers from the exploitation we have continuously seen befalling them.”
– Amb. Julius Bitok, Uasin Gishu Gubernatorial aspirant.
He also noted that devolved units have a role to play in addressing the farmers’ issues, pointing out the need for counties to start focusing on value addition – which he described as “the only antidote to protect farmers from exploitation by cartels in the supply chain.”
Amb. Prof. Julius Bitok who is seeking to be the second governor of Uasin Gishu says he has a plan and ability to turn around farmers’ fortunes.
“I have the determination to change the course for our farmers. I feel the pain they go through every year and am convinced with a resourceful leader we can contain the situation. It’s the reason I present myself to the people of Uasin Gishu to sort out the mess in our agriculture.”
– Amb. Julius Bitok, Uasin Gishu Gubernatorial aspirant.
