Kenya to import maize to bridge deficit

Agriculture secretary Felix Koskei: Kenya will next month sign a deal with Brazil for the purchase of 11,000 tractors and combine harvesters. FILE 

In Summary

• He said the total harvest in the country is expected to be 32 million bags as compared to last year’s 43 million bags due to poor climatic conditions and the Lethal Necrosis diseases that hit the crop in most parts of the country.

By PHILIP BWAYO
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The National Cereals and Produce Board will start purchasing harvested maize from farmers across the country within the next two weeks, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei has assured.

Speaking at the Kitale ASK show, Mr Koskei called on farmers who are being exploited by middlemen by selling their produce at cheaper prices to be a bit patient to take advantage of the better NCPB prices instead.

“We would like to assure farmers that NCPB will start purchasing the maize in the next ten days,” said Mr Koskei who was non-committal on purchase prices.

His assurance comes at a time when farmers in the North Rift are casting doubts in NCPB’s commitment to maize purchase, complaining of exploitation from middlemen who are dictating the market prices from desperate farmers.

The cabinet secretary also said the country will have to rely on bilateral trade to boost grain reserves following lower Maize production this year.

He said the total harvest in the country is expected to be 32 million bags as compared to last year’s 43 million bags due to poor climatic conditions and the Lethal Necrosis diseases that hit the crop in most parts of the country.

“We will purchase maize from our neighbouring countries to boost our reserves owing to a deficit that was brought about by crop failure in most parts of the country,” he said.

He however allayed fears of a possible food shortage in the country saying the government is committed to the country’s food security by stocking enough food.

“There should be no cause of alarm over our food security since we are putting enough measures in place to ensure we have enough food reserves for the country,” said Koskei.

He further said the government is set to purchase enough subsidized planting fertilizer by December to save Maize farmers from usual delays that have been affecting crop production in the country.

Mr Koskei said the government will determine the prices of the farm input later but assured of measures to ensure the farm input is supplied through the country in time to avoid delays.

Kenya Seed Company’s managing director Willy Bett assured of enough maize seed in the coming planting season, allying fears of reduction due to destruction of 700 acres of the crop in Trans Nzoia.