Posted on July, 5, 2016 at 10:21 am
By Stanley Kimuge
Farmers in the North Rift have alleged to cripple the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and leave them at mercy of middlemen.
Kenya National Farmers Federation of Agricultural Producers (Kenfap) Uasin Gishu County Branch chairman Musa Barno lamented that local leaders had failed to champion the interests of farmers.
" We feel that there could be an attempt at desroying the board, to enable dealers to import maize directly," said Mr Barno. " We are not happy at all. We feel we are not well represented. We will meet with the leaders to ensure that we streamline agriculture."
The farmers, who were meeting in Eldoret Town yesterday, were reacting to Auditor General Edward Ouko's report that NCPB posted a sh95 million loss in 2015, raising its cumulative revenue resource deficit to Sh7.95 billion.
NCPB was allocated Sh3.4 billion in 2013/14, Sh.2.7 billion in 2014/15 and 1.6 billion in the current financial year in the National Budget.
Mr Kipkorir Menjo, Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) director, said the board should be financially supported and restructured to ensure farmers continue to benefit.
"we will not allow individuals to cripple the great work of the board; the funds were used to improve the agency and should not be used to cripple the board," said Mr Menjo. "The governmet should ensure that the agency works to benefit the farmers."
The farmers also asked the government to give funds to NCPB to enable it operate without a hitch. According to Mr Menjo, with Sh2.7 billion, NCPB bought a million 90-killogramme bags of maize last year. He said this year they expect between 600,000 and 700,000 bags.
"We expect Parliament to increase he money," said Mr Menjo. "The money allocated for the Galana/Kulalu and other irrigation projects should be slashed and reallocated to support the agency."
NCPB chairman Geoffrey King'ang'i last week defended the reduced allocation to the Strategic Food Reserves, saying the government was focused on increasing food poduction by lowering farm production costs.
"This year, the money set aside for strategic reserves was lower than last year," said Col (Rtd) King'ang'i. But when you look at the allocation for subsidised fertiliser, it was increased. " What the government did was reduce the money from Strategic Food Reserves and reallocate it to the subsidised fertiliser (and seeds); if the farmers have enough food, there is no need to store the grains."
Source: Daily Nation Newspaper / Teusday July 5, 2016 / Page 27