Maize farmers protest over delay by NCPB in Kitale

Maize farmers in Trans-Nzoia County staged a demonstration to protest delays in purchase of their produce by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot due to lack of gunny bags for storage.

The more than 200 farmers complained that they had been directed by local depot manager Laurine Odhiambo to deliver the crop to neighboring depots such as Bungoma and Kisumu, thereby increasing their production cost.

The farmers expressed frustrations they have encountered for the past two months camping at the depot in bid to deliver the produce.

The farmers accused the national government of ignoring their plight and subjecting them to suffering.

They said they have spent a lot of money in hiring lorries to deliver the crop to the depot and an extra cost in securing the produce for the days they have been on the queue.