Wheat farmers warn against imports

By KIPCHUMBA KEMEI

Wheat farmers want the  Government to stop imports until the produce being harvested is offloaded to the markets.

Cereal Growers Association (CGA) said wheat imports would depress market prices and should only be allowed to make up for the shortfall.

“There are disturbing reports that cheap wheat is being imported at a time when farmers are harvesting. The glut is responsible for depressed prices,” said Lekana Kameto, the association spokesperson.

He said farmers in Narok, the largest producer of wheat, were not fetching good prices for their produce because of the imports. He added that the Sh3,100 millers were offering for 90kg bag was too little and not commensurate with the costs of farm inputs.

Erratic rainfall

“The cost of producing an acre of the crop is above Sh30,000. When millers offer Sh3,100 a bag, it means most farmers will not be in business next year,” said Kameto.

He believes farmers should be offered between Sh3,700 and Sh4,000 per bag.

He said most farmers in Narok were producing an average of between eight to ten bags per acre instead of between 25 to 30 bags and blamed it on erratic rainfall and poor germination. He said the high cost of inputs was standing in the way of the country’s production capacity.

Investigation by The Standard established that most milling companies were offering Sh3,100 for a 90kg bag. For instance, a milling company based in Eldoret is offering Sh3,300. 

“We are offering that price for farmers who are willing to transport their produce to our Eldoret milling plant.  We are offering Sh200 per bag to meet transport costs,” said an official of the company who declined to be named because he was not authorised to talk to the Press.