It’s a big relief for the wheat farmers in Narok County after the Ministry of Agriculture moved to mop up all the wheat to create room for the next harvest.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Agriculture and Food Authority, Dr. Bruno Linyiru instructed all farmers with wheat in their homes to deliver the produce to the nearest National and Cereal Produce Board (NCPB) as they await their payment in less than 30 days.
Dr. Linyiru spoke at the Narok town NCPB, where he noted that already the depot had received 1200 bags and 12 trunks were on the queue to deliver the produce.
He was accompanied by the Cereal Growers Association’s (CGA) chairman, Antony Kioko and farmers’ representatives from Narok County.
“The wheat that is uncollected is about 321, 000 bags which we expect to be collected soon because we have the capacity. We are happy because the intake process is flowing smoothly,” reiterated the CEO.
He lauded the government program to sell farmers subsidized fertilizer, saying the initiative has increased wheat harvest from 1.7 million bags in 2023 to 1.9 million bags in 2024.
“We are looking to reduce the importation of wheat, as what we currently produce locally is only 8 percent of what is consumed. This means we import 92 percent of wheat from other countries,” he said.
Kioko thanked the government for yielding to their cry and urged all farmers to deliver their wheat to the nearest NCPB depot.
“We have been working on a program where whatever small we produce is taken up before we import any wheat from outside. I believe this will sort out our issues,” said Kioko.
Narok CGA chairman Stanely Koonyo said storage was their major challenge that pushed farmers to hold demonstrations so as to air their complaints.
He asked farmers to respect the decision made by the department of agriculture and avail their produce at NCPB, where it will be collected by the millers.
The move comes a few days after Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe directed farmers and aggregators to deliver their stock to NCPB after the Board and millers signed a memorandum of understanding.
By Ann Salaton
