The government has opened doors for the purchase of local maize to restock the country’s grain reserves at a price of Ksh 4,000 per 90 Kg bags the country.
In a press release today the National Cereals and Produce Board however insisted that only maize fit for consumption and met the required dry level for accordance to the East African quality standards would be accepted.
“NCPB has opened its stores to purchase maize from only registered Kenyan famers at Ksh. 4, 000 per 90kg bag. The maize being purchased is for human consumption and must therefore strictly meet all the required quality parameters’ the statement read in part.
In a letter signed by Titus Maiyo on behalf of the Managing Director the board stressed on adherence to “ Quality Requirements for dry maize, East African Standards (EAS 2: 2017)to ensure that all the grain being bought in NCPB depots must be physiologically mature to avoid deterioration during drying and storage.
He expressed fears that many parts of the country were currently experiencing heavy rains which may prevent the grains from meeting the 13.5% moisture content requirement.
He said the quality parameter must be ideal for storage within a conventional store because the Board’s facilities could only dry maize from 18% moisture content and below.
Farmers interested in selling their produce to any of the depots were advised to ensure that their grain moisture content of their maize were reduced to at least 18% before delivering to NCPB facilities with driers.
He however said NCPB facilities with driers could take in maize with moisture content above the 13.5 but dry their produce for them at a subsidized fee of Ksh. 70 per 90kg bag.
“Depots without driers are strictly receiving maize with 13.5 % moisture content or below, other critical parameters are aflatoxin levels, rotten grain and foreign matter percentages which must be met before any grain intake. All the mentioned parameters must conform to the quality specification for Grade 11” the statement said.
The Board also announced other post-harvest services offered at their depots included aflatoxin testing and grain grading, general warehousing and Warehouse Receipt System (WRS), pest control services (fumigation and spraying), weighing and bagging and standardization at competitive rates.
By Wangari Ndirangu
