Uasin Gishu County will get the lion share in maize purchases under the quota system by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), with an allocation of 36 per cent of the two million bags to be bought by State.
The NCPB announced yesterday that farmers from the maize-rich county will be allowed to sell 716,802 bags of maize to the grains agency as purchases for Strategic Food Reserve starts this week.
Trans-Nzoia County comes in second with allocation of 282,610 bags. “The allocation has been based on production that each region has produced,” the NCPB said yesterday in an interview.
Other counties that will sell maize to the cereals board are Elgeyo Marakwet (47,555 bags), West Pokot (48,677), Nakuru (150,534), Narok (130,420), Nandi (140,948), Laikipia 27,162) and Kericho (53,826). Only three counties outside Rift Valley are among the 12 that have been listed to sell their produce to NCPB. They include Bungoma (224,091 bags), Kakamega (107,615 bags) and Migori (69,760 bags).
The process of purchasing was meant to start yesterday, but there were delays occasioned by lack of vetting forms. The management said the forms had been sent to respective counties and that farmers would be allowed to deliver their grains by today.
“It is true there were delays but as we speak now the forms have been sent and farmers will be allowed to sell their maize starting today (thursday,” said the board.
The NCPB has capped the purchase of maize at 400 bags worth Sh1 million as the government moves to tame traders and large scale holders who have been accused of abusing the window at the expense of small scale farmers.
The government says any registered farmer with more than 400 bags of the produce must be cleared by the Strategic Food Reserve (SFR).
The SFR, which is buying two million bags from growers this year, says brokers, traders and middlemen are not eligible to sell their grain to the board.
“The purchase targets smallholder farmers with up to 400 bags of 90kg. Brokers, middlemen and traders are not eligible,” says ministry of Agriculture in a statement.
This comes just a year after a serious breach by the management of NCPB in purchasing of 2017 crop, where traders were allowed to sell their maize to the board, locking out genuine farmers as the stores filled up before they could deliver.
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