This archive report was first published on 18 July 2019.
Published on July 18, 2019, Chairman of the Strategic Grain Reserve Fund Noah Wekesa met with maize farmers in North Rift to discuss the planned importation of 12.5 million bags of maize, sparking debate over food security in the country.
According to sources, the meeting was held at the Uasin Gishu County Hall in Eldoret, where farmers and leaders from maize-producing regions of Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Nandi, and Elgeyo Marakwet counties were in attendance.
Dr. Noah Wekesa, the chairman of the Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR) board, was accompanied by members of Parliament from the North Rift during the press briefing at the Panafric Hotel.
Samuel Yego, the Uasin Gishu County executive for agriculture, stated that the SGR team would discuss issues of maize, including how the government plans to buy the produce through the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to guarantee food security in the country.
However, critics of the maize import plan have questioned the rationale of shipping in the cereal when local farmers are still holding vast stocks. They accuse the government of frustrating farmers from delivering their produce to the NCPB.
Tom Korgoren, a farmer in Uasin Gishu, expressed his concerns, saying, “After last year’s harvests, we were told that there was a lot of maize and were restricted in supplying to NCPB. Why should there be shortage now?”
Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) director in North Rift region, Kipkorir Menjo, stated that the association expects SGR to tell farmers about its preparedness to buy local maize.
“The current budget estimates did not factor funds for the purchase of SGR through NCPB. We want the board to explain how it plans to replenish its stocks and reveal quantities to be bought from farmers,” said Mr. Menjo.
Meanwhile, a co-chairman of the taskforce formed by President Uhuru Kenyatta to address maize crisis has ruled out imports until the country’s grain deficit is ascertained and made public.
