Kenya Gov’t moves to clear wheat stockpile
Narok wheat farmers secured a deal ensuring 200,000 bags of wheat stored in silos will be sold at Sh 5,200 per bag. Governor Patrick Ntutu confirmed the agreement with the Agriculture Department to prevent millers from lowering prices. Plans for wheat and potato processing plants aim to boost profits and provide a stable market.
It’s a relief for Narok wheat farmers after the County Government and the State Department of Agriculture put a strategy in place to ensure about 200, 000 bags (90 kilogrammes) lying in the silos were sold off at a high price.
While speaking to farmers at the Olokurto area in Narok North Sub County, where he launched multiple projects, Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu said he had wide consultation with top officials at the Department of Agriculture, where they agreed that each bag will be sold at Sh 5, 200 as per the farmer’s expectations.
“The millers were delaying buying our wheat so that the farmers could lower the selling price. But we have agreed that all wheat will be sold at a price of Sh 5, 200 as per a former agreement,” said Ntutu.
“We know the cost of producing wheat is very expensive. Farmers use a lot of farm inputs to have a high production. We are working to ensure that their wheat is sold out on time,” he said.
The governor, who was accompanied by East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament (MP) David Sankok, asked farmers to continue planting wheat, assuring them of a stable market in the future.
The County Government, in collaboration with the National Government, he added, is in the process of constructing wheat and potato processing plants where the farmers will easily sell their produce at a higher profit.
“Our county is one of the leading counties in the country in potato and wheat production. We must build a potato processing plant and wheat processing factory in this area so that we can add value to our produce and sell at a higher price,” underscored the governor.
On his part, Sankok asked the residents to support the current county administration to deliver its mandate to the people and warned those engaging in early campaigns.
He observed that Narok County had been named by the Controller of Budgets as the best in its own revenue collection and top in service delivery.
The promise to sell off the bags of wheat lying in the silos is a big relief to farmers who had initially raised concerns over the lack of a market for their produce.
The farmers, led by their Chairman Stanley Koonyo, decried that no miller had shown interest in their produce since the harvesting season began in September last year.
He asked the government to intervene and ensure their produce was sold out as another wheat planting season approaches.
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Source : Kenya News
