Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has announced that a 90-kilogram bag of maize will be retailing at Ksh 4000.
Linturi made the announcement on Thursday, October 12 while appearing before the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries.
The Agriculture CS at the same time noted that strategic grain reserves to buy one million bags of maize from farmers and National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) stores are already opened and operational.
Linturi also noted that only registered maize farmers will be allowed to sell their maize to NCPB Depots.
He also disclosed that maize dryers will be available to farmers from November 2023 adding that the government will provide subsidized fertilizers before the end year for the next planting season.
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The announcement comes days after Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang requested the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Committee to indicate the minimum price of a bag of maize during the harvest season, taking into account the increase in input costs due to global economic changes.
“The Committee should outline measures put in place by the government to avail maize dryers to support farmers during the harvesting season, particularly in light of the impending El-Nino rains,” Chesang said.
The UDA Senator asked for an explanation of the measures taken by the government to provide maize dryers to support farmers during the harvest season.
Chesang further asked whether the Ministry of Agriculture, together with the National Cereals Produce Board (NCPB), will provide driers to farmers on an emergency basis and at government expense.
