Bargaining power of the government is being put to test as their proposed price for the purchase of maize has been considered an insult by the price the farmers want which is almost double the government’s tabled price.
The Cabinet yesterday approved the purchase of 2 million bags of maize from local farmers at a price of Ksh. 2,300 per bag.
However leaders from the North Rift have rejected the Cabinet-approved Ksh.2,300 price for a bag of maize.
Led by MPs Joshua Kutuny (Cherangany) and Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills), the legislators said they are opposed to the price because farmers were not consulted.
“We will not accept anything that is below Ksh3,600. I want to tell the President, that even though the Government may not have enough money and advisors may have indicated that a lower price is sufficient, farmers are the ones that will suffer,” Kutuny said.
Speaking during a Press briefing at Parliament buildings, the Cherangany MP further urged the President to review the price endorsed by Cabinet on Thursday evening.
He also urged farmers not to take their maize to the National Cereals and Produce Board until their pleas are heard for a better price.
On his part, Keter said farmers had earlier approached the chairman of the Strategic Food Reserve Fund Noah Wekesa and urged him to review the Ksh.2,300.
A Cabinet meeting chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House Nairobi and attended by Deputy President William Ruto approved proposals by the Ministry of Agriculture to purchase the maize as part of the ongoing proactive efforts by the Government to support local farmers.
In recent months, the President has called for urgent interventions to protect local maize farmers from market challenges including delayed payments.
Thursday’s Cabinet decision was a major relief to local farmers who have been raising concerns about the lack of an assured local market for their produce.
Between the the government and the farmers who do you think will bend to the other in the maize price argument?