Farmers have some relief after the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) announced an increase in the cost of purchasing maize from growers.

PHOTO | COURTESY The parliamentary committee is hearing from NCPB Managing Director Joseph Kimote regarding audit concerns.

The board's Director General Joseph Kimeto, testified before the Public Investment Social Services Administration and Agriculture Committee that the costs for a 90-kilogram bag had been increased from Sh5,100 to Sh5,600.

"At this time, farmers can conduct business with us because we are open. We have increased the price from Sh5100 for a 90kg bag to Sh5600," he said.

There is no wait because we pay any farmer who can deliver that amount in cash through an MPESA transaction, according to Kimeto.

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As the government stated it would open a duty-free window for maize imports to bridge the gap, farmers had warned that they ran the risk of losing money.

The NCPB has so far kept 50,000 bags for industrial use.

PHOTO | COURTESY  NCPB boss Kimeto

Kimeto further informed Parliament that the sale of federalize that has been given subsidies is currently taking place in 12 counties.

Before the planting season is finished, the government plans to distribute 6 million bags in the North Rift, South Rift, and Lake Basin regions.

He claims that the objective is to ensure the supply is made on time between now and planting season, which is in a month.

"Now that people are reporting smelling rain, we will reap greatly. With this program, we are collaborating with elected officials and county governors, Kimeto continued.

But, lawmakers, led by Kaiti MP Joshua Kimilu, have expressed concern that the fertilizer's poor quality will severely impact the planting season.

Farmers complain that the lack of rain causes everything to dry up after they use fertilizers. The crops of people who used other fertilizers prospered during the two weeks without rain, but those who utilized government fertilizer all perished.

The nation's food situation has worsened due to irregular rainfall and high input expenditures, notably for fertilizer.

PHOTO | COURTESY NCPB Stores

Via the Fertilizer Subsidy Scheme, which provided 1.4 million 50kg bags of fertilizer to farmers nationwide in 2022, the national treasury disbursed Sh3.55 billion for the purchase and distribution of fertilizer at a discounted rate to farmers.

Fertilizer use makes up 30% of productivity in the annual production of maize, which means that the use of the substance might enhance yields by almost 4.2 million bags.