Farmers at mercy of middlemen after state fails to declare maize prices

After a successful bumper harvest, maize farmers are struggling to sell their produce following delays by the government to announce buying prices.

Peter Wafula, who harvested over 13,000 bags two weeks in Saboti, says the delay has exposed them to exploitation.

He explained how traders have been flocking to his home to buy the maize at Sh2,000 per 90kg bag.

"The government has let us down. The market price of Sh2,000 is very low compared to the cost of production," said Wafula, who has been in the maize farming business for over four decades, while lauding the government for lowering the cost of production.

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Fredrick Rono expressed frustration  he is encountering to sell his crop. He said this could discourage production in the next season.

Grace Nanjala, a small-scale farmer in Mitoto, said she was forced to sell her maize at a throwaway price to settle family bills.

Some of the farmers are yet to harvest their crop, fearing if might start rotting.

Middlemen from as far as Mombasa and Nairobi have pitched camp in the county. 

Tom Nyagechaga, the local Kenya National Federation of Farmers, said the government was frustrating farmers, adding that most of them depend on earnings from the crop.

"By this time of the year, the government should have announced the buying price for our maize. It is disappointing that traders have taken advantage of the situation," he said.

"We are asking the government to buy this season's crop at Sh5,000 per 90kg bag to enable us expand production.”

Meanwhile, farmers who are yet to remove the crop from the fields are praying the ongoing heavy rains subside.

Cherangany MP Patrick Simiyu urged farmers not to sell their maize at low prices but instead hoard it until prices improve.

The lawmaker faulted the government for ignoring the plight of farmers.

"The government's delay to announce the buying prices has left farmers at the mercy of traders. The government has to protect the farmers from exploitation," he said.

The county projects to produce more than five million bags.