Maize farmers in Lugari Sub-County have called on the government to buy maize at a higher price to compensate farmers who bought 50kg bag of fertilizer at Sh6, 500 during the last long rains planting season.
Joseph Ngaa, the Sub-County Chairman Federation of Farmers while speaking in Munyuki Location on Friday said the government should control the price of dry maize this season by buying at a price which will make farmers recover the high expenses incurred during planting.
Ngaa expressed confidence that other private cereal dealers or groups will be forced to increase the price of the dry maize if the government leads by example.
The Federation chair regretted that some maize farmers abandoned part of their land last season due to high costs of farm inputs which he said will lead to lesser maize production.
“I assure that there will be low maize yields this year because some of our maize farmers failed to plant part of their land as a result of high farm inputs cost,” he said.
Ngaa, however, thanked President Dr. William Ruto for subsidising the prices of fertilizer down to Sh3500.
He said the reduction of fertilizer price will have a very big impact on maize harvest next year and the current short rain season.
“We expect a reduction of maize price next year when the current government subsidised fertilizer will have a full impact on maize farming input,” Ngaa added.
Elsewhere, Simon Andala, the Lugari Sub-County Agricultural Official assured farmers that the Sub-County has received enough government subsidised fertilizer stocked in National Cereals and Produce Board, Lugari Depot and that farmers should grab this opportunity and use the fertilizer to produce food in the short rain season.
Andala asked the farmers to visit the depot for information about the fertilizer. He also challenged the farmers to use carefully their harvested maize since there will be a shortage.
He further pleaded with the farmers to seek more advice from their offices on how to store maize properly without causing health issues when consumed.
