Narok wheat farmers want import duty raised from 10 to 25 per cent

ELDORET: Farmers in the county have called on the Government to increase import duty levied on wheat imports from the current 10 to 25 per cent.

The farmers who said they are expecting a bumper harvest this year said the State should protect them by ensuring that wheat from foreign markets does not flood the market.

Speaking Sunday in Narok, the farmers said wheat imports could cause low prices of the produce.

Led by the chairman Stanley Koonyo, they complained that imports offer unfair competition to them because most countries where such imports come from usually offer subsidies to their growers.

"Viewed against the high cost of production in Kenya, this makes the imports cheaper even with the 10 per cent duty that is charged. We demand this duty be raised so that Kenyan wheat fetches more prices," said Mr Koonyo.

They said the farmers will only be protected if there is enough money at the National Cereals and Produce Board depots thus saving the farmers from unscrupulous brokers.

They dismissed last week's calls on the Government by millers to remove the import duty saying their calls are driven by selfish end.

"We are opposed to demands by the millers that import duty be removed totally. Their call is not informed by the interest of the farmers but their desire to maximise on profits," said Koonyo.

They (millers) argued the move will keep prices of wheat products low when the duty is set aside as the country imports up to 75 per cent of wheat yearly.

They asked the State to buy a 90 kilo bag of wheat at Sh3600. Currently the same bag goes for Sh2,800.

"Brokers are flooding the region with the hope of fleecing farmers. We appeal to farmers not to sell their produce to them at a throw away price," said Koonyo.

He attributed the expected harvest to favourable weather conditions and affordable farm inputs.