Editorials

EDITORIAL: NCPB must get it right

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The NCPB must ensure the genuine farmer is paid without undue delays. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Eyes are on the National Produce and Cereals Board (NCPB) as it seeks to finally pay farmers their dues for maize deliveries.

There is a public expectation that NCPB must get it right this time — after the fraud racket where unscrupulous individuals were paid millions of shillings at the expense of genuine farmers.

It is disheartening for the farmer who toils for months, spending much of resources to grow and even incurs costs to deliver it to the NCPB stores – and yet has nothing to show nearly a year later.

It is a sad state of affairs when it emerges that the same NCPB has conveniently paid dishonest traders who import maize on the cheap for sale to the board. Even more embittered is the farmer who did not even get to sell his produce because the unscrupulous dealer filled the NCPB silos with imports.

Notably, Kenya is now heading to another harvest season of the country’s staple food, and it is unfortunate it will be a struggle for farmers to find market for their new harvests, partly due to the mess at the produce board.

The NCPB must ensure the genuine farmer is paid without undue delays.

On the other hand, those who profiteered at the expense of this farmer must be made to pay.