Maize farmers to be paid Ksh1 billion

The National Treasury has released Ksh1 billion owed to farmers by the National Cereals and Produce Board.

The payment will go to farmers, mainly in the Rift Valley, which will be a major boost during the current planting season. The board took 452,518 bags on credit after exhausting of Ksh2.7 billion.

Middlemen have been taking advantage of farmers to buy a 90kg bag of maize at Ksh1,500. NCPB was offering Ksh2,300 per bag. NCPB has so far paid for 1.4 million bags and took 452,518 bags on credit.

Farmers opted for the credit facility because the board was offering higher prices. Consumers are currently enjoying reduced flour prices occasioned by the low maize prices in the market. At two kilogramme packet is selling at Ksh80 down from Ksh120 last August.