Barnabas Bii
21 July 2008
Nairobi — Agriculture minister William Ruto has disclosed plans by World Food Programme to purchase 10 million bags of maize in the country annually.
Mr Ruto said this will motivate farmers to invest in maize production as it would assure them of a market for their crop.
"Maize farmers should be assured of a market following the move by WFP to purchase the produce and attractive prices offered by the Government through the National Cereals and Produce Board," said the minister.
He said NCPB will purchase this season's maize produce at Sh1,700 up from Sh1,350 which the farmers had termed as being too low.
The European Union has also announced that it will channel 1 billion euros to Africa to boost food security in the continent. According to the chairman of the Board of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa Kofi Annan the fund will boost agricultural production in Africa through provision of farm inputs at subsidised costs.
However farmers in the North Rift region, the country's grain basket have decried the high cost of farm inputs which has resulted in a decline in crop production this season.
Incentives
The farmers said the increased cost of fertiliser to Sh4,000 up from Sh2,400 last season and the skyrocketing fuel prices of fuel was rendering agriculture a non-profit making venture.
"The Government should re-introduce such incentives like the guaranteed minimum return to cushion farmers against losses in case of natural calamities," said Isaac Kibogy, a farmer from Sergoit area of Uasin Gishu district.
Uasin Gishu District is expected to experience a declined maize production from 5.3 million bags last season to 4.7 million bags this year due to the increased cost of farm inputs.
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