Relief for Narok wheat farmers as state steps in to resolve their market woes
Ann Salaton-KNA
Narok wheat farmers are relieved after the county government in collaboration with the State Department of Agriculture developed a strategy to ensure wheat lying in silos is sold at premium price.
Farmers had complained that at least 200,000, 90-kilogramme bags were lying in the silos unsold.
Speaking to farmers at Olokurto area in Narok North Sub-County where he launched multiple projects, Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu said he had wide consultation with top officials at the Department of Agriculture and agreed that each bag will be sold at Sh 5,200 as per farmers’ expectations.
“The millers were delaying buying our wheat so that the farmers could lower the selling price. But we have agreed that all wheat will be sold at a price of Sh5,200 as per a former agreement,” Ntutu said.
“We know the cost of producing wheat is very expensive. Farmers use a lot of farm inputs to have a high production. We are working to ensure that their wheat is sold out on time,” he said.
The governor, who was accompanied by East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament (MP) David Sankok, asked farmers to continue planting wheat, assuring them of a stable market in the future.
The county government, in collaboration with the national government, he added, is in the process of constructing wheat and potato processing plants for farmers to easily sell their produce at a higher profit.
“Our county is one of the leading counties in the country in potato and wheat production. We must build a potato processing plant and wheat processing factory in this area so that we can add value to our produce and sell at a higher price,” the governor said.
On his part, Sankok asked the residents to support the current county administration to deliver its mandate to the people and warned those engaging in early campaigns.
He observed that Narok County had been named by the Controller of Budgets as the best in its own revenue collection, and top in-service delivery.
The promise to sell off the bags of wheat lying in the silos is a big relief to farmers who had initially raised concerns over lack of market for their produce.
The farmers led by their chairman Stanley Koonyo decried that no miller had shown interest in their produce since the harvesting season began in September last year.
He asked the government to intervene and ensure their produce was sold out as another wheat planting season approaches.