President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday asked millers not to alter the price of maize flour citing sufficient maize in the market.
President Uhuru Kenyatta further directed the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to immediately open buying centres and stores to receive maize from farmers across the country.
The president encouraged millers to be mindful of their social responsibilities as he pointed out that the agricultural sector is enjoying massive support from the State via Government interventions & good weather in 2018 that has led to a bumper harvest of 46 million bags.
In a rational environment, this should translate to significant reduction in the price of maize flour since supply has risen, dealers should do the right thing to their fellow Kenyans, and not increase prices.
The Commander-in-Chief further warned the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and investigative agencies against mismanaging payments for maize farmers and ensure timely payments.
Last year during Madaraka Day, President Kenyatta directed the Ministry of Agriculture to finalize the audit and verify pending payments to sugar cane farmers.
“I am pleased to confirm that the process has been successfully completed and I therefore direct the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Treasury to immediately start the process of paying the farmers,” he stated.
“Finally, let me reiterate that the Government remains committed to supporting farmers to increase agricultural productivity. In this context, I have directed the Ministry to accelerate the implementation of interventions that have been agreed upon under the Big Four Food and Security Agenda.”
Last year it emerged that middlemen were the biggest beneficiaries of the Sh7 billion State purchase of maize to replenish the strategic food reserve after buying the grain cheaply from farmers.
The traders were buying the 90-kilogramme bag of maize at Sh1,800 from farmers and selling it to the State through the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) for Sh3,200 after identifying themselves as growers.
This happened despite the government’s stern warning of not allowing cartels to benefit from the higher price that is meant to benefit farmers.
The traders had taken advantage of weak vetting at the chiefs’ offices to acquire fake identities as growers. The NCPB demands letters from chiefs indicating that those selling maize to them are farmers.
The NCPB however absolved itself from any blame and said they do not take part in vetting as the task is the responsibility of the agricultural officials in the county governments.
“Our work is just to receive maize that has been delivered and not to do vetting of farmers,” managing director Newton Terer told the Business Daily on phone.
However President Uhuru’s stern warning to scrupulous dealers may see an end to the vice.