The government has so far paid out a total of Sh.471million to farmers who delivered maize to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
The NCPB North Rift Manager, Gilbert Rotich said so far they have received 640, 000 50-kilogramme bags of maize from farmers from the region.
“We expect to clear the outstanding Sh.417million by this Friday April 5,” said the Manager.
He was optimistic that the 2million bags the government plans to purchase for the strategic grain reserve will be achieved once large scale farmers are allowed to deliver their produce to NCPB.
“Remember the government capped maize deliveries at 400 bags maximum per individual to ensure unscrupulous traders do not penetrate the system like the previous year and majority of those who have so far supplied NCPB with the cereal are small scale farmers, but once we open the door to the large scale farmers, we shall reach the 2million target,”Rotich.
He at the same time, assured the farmers that there was enough government subsidized fertilizer for the planting season.
“We are ready to supply the farmers with the fertilizer as long as they have been vetted and they are able to present the necessary approval forms to us,” he said.
By Kiptanui Cherono
