Maize farmers to register with NCPB in fight against imports

The government has issued a warning to traders said to be buying maize from neighboring countries and selling to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).

There have been complaints that the the cereals board is not buying produce from local farmers.

“Our neighbouring countries are using the same seed varieties making it difficult for us to differentiate our maize from theirs,” Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri said.

The CS said that from now on, farmers will have to register with NCPB to ensure that they are given first priority. An online registration is expected to roll out in six weeks time.

A crackdown has been launched on unscrupulous traders and staff members colluding with them to defraud the cereals board, Mr. Kiunjuri said.

In 2016, NCPB had indicated that it would only be buying maize from registered farmers but the plan was not implemented.

Meanwhile, the government has distributed 900,000 bags of subsidised fertilisers to farmers across the country as the planting season continues.