Editorials

EDITORIAL: Hasten maize payment

NCPB

Trucks queue to deliver maize at the NCPB, Eldoret depot on February 14, 2019. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NMG

Reports that the National Cereals and Produce Board has only bought two percent of the targeted two million bags of maize since the exercise kicked off three weeks ago are worrying.

According to NCPB it had bought 59,444 bags of maize by the end of last week.

While we agree that the adoption of a stringent vetting process could be the cause of the slow pace, there is need to hasten the process. The NCPB has capped the purchase of maize at 400 bags worth Sh1 million per farmer. The purpose of the whole exercise is to tame traders and large-scale farmers who have been accused of abusing the purchase window at the expense of small-scale farmers. Previously, cartels used to deliver maize to the agency and would be paid immediately. This resulted in imported maize being bought at the expense of local harvests.

We support the goal of ensuring that the small farmer benefits from their sweat but also urge the agency to hasten the process. Our small farmers have suffered for so long hence the need to ensure that we put a smile on their faces.

This can only be achieved by ensuring prompt payment for their harvest.