The government has set aside Ksh 4 billion for the purchase of maize from farmers through the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) for this season’s harvests. This comes amid a bumper harvest from farmers across Rift Valley and Western Kenya attributed to timely access to subsidized fertilizer.
Agriculture is key for the achievement of food security in the country as well as the continent to evade the hunger, starvation, and poverty crisis witnessed. Kenya Kwanza government assured citizens through its manifesto on the plan to inject Ksh 250 billion into agriculture.
President William Ruto had stressed the commitment to dealing with food insecurity as he withdrew the subsidies on food prices. The withdrawal was a move that received lots of criticism even though the president emphasized that he would subsidize production rather by availing fertilizers to ensure farmers make better harvests.
This comes amid rising pressure from the citizens calling on the government to reduce the high cost of living triggered by rising food and fuel prices.
As plans to purchase the maize from farmers are underway, it was noted that post-harvest losses have increasingly been a reason for reduced produce which the government has remarked on addressing.
The cabinet noted that it’s important to be supporting farmers in drying and storing the produce to mitigate post-harvest losses.
