KENYA — Maize farmers across Kenya are calling on the government to raise the price of maize at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) from the proposed KES 4,000 (US$28) to KES 6,000 (US$40) per 90-kg-bag, a 50% hike.  

The farmers argue that the current price does not adequately cover the increased costs of farm inputs, which are squeezing their profit margins.

At a recent meeting in Eldoret, key representatives including John Bett, Patrick Sawe, and Selina Kibor voiced their concerns.

“Despite the government’s efforts, especially with subsidized fertilizer, the current price of KES 4,000 is insufficient for us to break even,” Kibor stated.

The farmers have requested a meeting with President William Ruto and Ministry of Agriculture officials to discuss these issues in detail and to advocate for a price adjustment.

Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh, who was in Eldoret last week, dismissed the call for a price increase.

He argued that the current price offers good profitability and that farmers have the option to sell their maize to other buyers if they can secure better rates.

 “We believe that the current price is the most favorable option. Farmers can also explore other market avenues for potentially better prices,” Ronoh said.

The PS reported that the NCPB has already purchased over 700,000 bags of maize, with payments exceeding KES 1.5 billion (US$10 million). He assured that outstanding payments would be settled by the end of the year.

In response to the farmers’ concerns, Ronoh confirmed that the government plans to distribute subsidized fertilizer by the end of November to support next year’s planting season.

He emphasized that the distribution will be monitored to ensure the quality of the fertilizer and prevent any issues in the supply chain.

“We are committed to ensuring high-quality fertilizer reaches the farmers without any distribution loopholes,” he assured.

This comes as the government is optimistic about the maize harvest, projecting a record yield of over 70 million bags this year.

The government attributes this increase to the availability of subsidized fertilizer and other supportive measures. Additionally, the government has distributed 100 maize driers to mitigate the 30% post-harvest losses that farmers typically face.

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