This brings to Sh3.6 billion the money that has been paid to farmers since NCPB started the purchasing exercise last year in November.
NCPB has so far purchased 1.8 million bags of maize out of the targeted two million.
The Strategic Food Reserve (SFR) has released an additional Sh500 million to farmers as payment on the grain that they have purchased from growers who supplied maize to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
This latest amount released on Monday brings to Sh3.6 billion the money that has been paid to farmers since NCPB started the purchasing exercise last year in November.
NCPB managing director Newton Terer says the board has so far purchased 1.8 million bags of maize out of the targeted two million.
“As it is now, we only owe farmers Sh2 billion from the 1.8 million bags of maize that we have so far purchased,” said Mr Terer.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyampe says the ministry will release additional funds once the Sh5 billion that had earlier been allocated for the exercise is exhausted, to enable NCPB buy more maize from farmers.
“The Sh5 billion was meant to purchase two million bags, however, we are not going to lock farmers out, we will purchase all maize that they have.
The government will provide additional funds for the exercise,” said Mr Lesiyampe.
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