Farmers set high hopes on Raila Odinga during North Rift visit

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will today visit North Rift on a mission to listen to the plight of farmers.

Farmers in the region are not happy with an array of issues key among them the poor maize prices offered by the Government and State’s failure to provide them with subsidised farm inputs.

Raila will meet the farmers and their officials at a hotel in Eldoret where he will get a petition on pertinent issues affecting them.

The opposition leader has been making inroads on Jubilee strongholds ahead of the 2017 General Election. Mr Kimutai Kolum, a cereals farmer from Soy, said many farmers are unhappy with the Jubilee government over its failure to offer better maize prices and subsidised fertiliser.

“We expect Raila to push for reforms in the sector because at the moment, a 90kg-bag goes for Sh2,300 yet the expectation of farmers is for the government to increase it to Sh3,100,” he pointed out.

The farmers are also displeased with the State because it has failed to heed to their calls to provide driers for their grains.

Kolum said farmers stand to suffer massive post harvest losses if the government does not provide them with the driers.

He said President Uhuru Kenyatta ought to provide a directive to allow farmers dry their produce at the Cereals Boards for free.

“Because of the heavy rains, many farmers have not managed to dry their maize. That is why we are calling on the government to help us access dryers otherwise we stand to suffer serious post-harvest losses,” he said.

Mr Stephen Sorobit, another farmer from Cheptiret urged the government to give a directive to the National Cereals and Produce Board to buy the produce before it goes to waste.

He explained that the board has improved facilities and can buy the produce in bulk for storage.

“The board is able to determine the correct moisture content of the grains and it will be easy for millers to acquire the required maize for its production,” he added.

Sospeter Mutai another farmer observed that the recent visit by the President did not yield much fruit.

Orange Democratic Movement National devolution secretary Kipkorir Menjo expressed optimism that Raila’s visit would bear fruits because he understands the plight of farmers and is willing to push for reforms.

“We expect farmers to come air their views during the meeting with the former PM. It is clear the government has not done much to address challenges facing growers,” he said.