Maize farmer donates 37 bags to support needy families

Mr Nyambogo Maunde, Deputy County Commissioner Nandi North (left) receive consignment of maize at Kabiyet office that was donated by a farmer in Nandi Mr Charles Barchigei (third from left) on Wednesday. Barchigei donated 37 bags, each of 90 kgs to the national government for distribution to hunger stricken families in the country. [Titus Too, Standard]

A cereals producer in Nandi County has donated 37 bags of maize to the national government for distribution to needy families.

The farmer, Charles Barchigei, handed the consignment of ready maize grains to the Nandi North County Commissioner's office at Kabiyet at the weekend.

He said good yields from last season's harvest, the successful government's subsidized fertiliser program and good weather throughout last maize season, motivated him to set aside part of his produce to help feed vulnerable families as a gesture of appreciation.

"The finished product of maize grains is what my family set aside from last season's harvest. We are donating to the national government so that it can be distributed to vulnerable families and famine-hit regions of Northern Kenya like Turkana, Mandera and Garissa, among others," said Barchigei.

The maize in 90 kg bags, worth Sh 148,000 based on the current government price of Sh 4,000 per bag, was received by Nandi North Deputy County Commissioner Mr Nyamboga Maunde on behalf of Nandi County Commissioner Caroline Nzwili.

"We are endowed with good soil and adequate rains throughout the year. I urge other farmers to donate the little food produce they have to support other Kenyans in regions that have suffered long periods of drought and poor families," said Barchigei, who hails from Kormaet village in Cheptil location.

He said the deliveries were harvests from a two-acre farm that his family had set aside last year towards assisting Kenyans facing food shortage.

Barchigei added that the initiative is Biblical towards extending help to others, saying: "Mathew 25.42 calls on us to extend a hand of help to avoid blame - For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink."