A section of maize farmers in Trans Nzoia County is worried about losing their harvest to post-harvest losses due to the high rainfall being experienced in the North Rift region.

Speaking to K24 Digital at his farm in Kibomet, Kiminini Constituency, Fredrick Rono, a large-scale farmer, called on the government through the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to open its stores and allow farmers to dry their maize to the required moisture content.

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Rono added that although there is high maize production this year, farmers are likely to lose their yield if proper measures are not put in place to avert a looming food crisis.

“We appreciate the government for giving us the fertiliser subsidy. Most of us are likely to harvest not less than 30 bags per acre, but the problem is that there is a lot of rain, and that is why we need dryers,” Rono stated.

On his part, Jonathan Meli, a maize farmer in Cherang’any Constituency, called on the Ministry of Agriculture and Crop Development to announce maize prices so that they can deliver their harvest in good time.

“For us to break even, we need Ksh. 4,000 per 90kg bag of maize. We are also asking NCPB to prepare their stores to receive our maize,” Meli urged the government.

The farmers also called for a downward review of maize drying charges so that the majority of them can afford to dry their produce and make a profit.

“Currently, NCPB charges 33 shillings for every 1per cent drop in moisture content. That price should be subsidised because the current moisture content is very high,” Meli said.

The Kitale NCPB depot has two operational dryers with a capacity to dry 10,000 bags of maize per day. Maize should be dried to 13.5 per cent moisture content before storage.

Rono further called for legislation that will compel buyers to purchase maize in 50kg bags, arguing that the use of 90kg bags is exploitative.

This year, the Ministry of Agriculture estimates that Trans Nzoia farmers will harvest 7.5 million bags, part of the 71 million bags the government expects from Kenyan farmers.