Ministry hands maize growing zones Sh390m cereals dryers

The Ministry of Agriculture has distributed 36 grain dryers at a cost of Sh390 million to the maize-growing regions ahead of the anticipated El Nino rains.

Agriculture PS Sicily Kariuki said the country is well prepared to handle the rains that might lead to post-harvest losses.

The PS said the value of maize losses is estimated at Sh10.8 billion annually due to poor post-harvesting handling, adding that the figure is too big to be ignored in a country that grapples with grain deficit.

“We are not taking any chances and that is why we have distributed 36 maize dryers to the maize-growing belts,” said Ms Kariuki.

Majority of farmers do not have proper storage facilities or drying equipment. Instead they rely on open-air drying, which most times does not give their grain the required moisture content of 13.5 per cent.

Aflatoxin poisoning

Ms Kariuki said the consumption of maize that is not properly dried has resulted in the increased incidents of aflatoxin poisoning.

The dryers, Ms Kariuki said, are in the custody of the county governments but they would eventually be given to the farmers upon completion of the project.

“The facilities will be handed over to the farmers and will be community based, run and operated by organised groups,” she said.

The PS advised farmers who cannot access the facilities to take their grain to the National and Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) for drying and storage under the Warehouse Receipt System.

The grain drying and storage facilities will include a room where a mobile drier will be installed, as well as a receiving and weighing room.

The facility will also have a storage area with a capacity of 10,000 stacked bags of grains.