Narok governor wants import duty for wheat raised

Narok Governor Samuel Tunai

Narok Governor Samuel Tunai has joined the calls on the national government to increase taxes on importation of wheat and maize from the current 10 per cent to 50 per cent; for local farmers to benefit from their produce.

Tunai said importation of wheat from neighbouring countries was impacting negatively on the prices of wheat and maize produced in the county.

Wheat farmers in the county are expecting a bumper harvest this year due to adequate rainfall witnessed in the region as compared to last year; where many farmers incurred massive losses after their crop failed due to erratic rainfall.

"Our farmers are now harvesting their wheat but every time we start the exercise, unscrupulous importers flood the market with the produce, thus the local farmer is forced to sell his/her produce at low prices," said the governor.

Tunai called on the Agriculture Ministry to move with speed to cushion farmers against unfair competition from importers, whom he said, import cheap and low quality wheat.

"Before the Government allows the millers and other importers to import wheat or maize, they should first ensure that the local farmer in Narok or any other part of the country gets good market for their produce," he added.

Recently, the wheat farmers in the county opposed the move by millers to lobby for duty-free wheat imports to lower the cost of wheat products.

Narok Wheat Farmers Association Chairman Stanley Koonyo differed with cereal millers, saying farmers invest heavily in producing the produce and that it would be an insult for the Government to allow importation at the expense of local farmers.