Cherangani MP Joshua Kuttuny has asked the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to do away with stringent rules while buying maize from farmers.
Currently, farmers in North Rift are delivering their maize to NCPB.
He said it’s wrong for the board to start registering farmers while they line up day and night to deliver their maize.
He added that he had advised the government last year in September to register farmers early.
“No one listened to me. Farmers should be preparing their land instead of lining up at NCPB silos,”
“What is important now is to ensure NCPB is open, start receiving maize from farmers and pay them immediately to allow them prepare for this planting season “he said.
The legislature regretted that most farmers are yet to prepare land for planting.
He said the farmers have been discouraged by the government which is buying maize at shs 2,500 per 90 kg bag of maize.
The NCPB has made it mandatory to register farmers before buying maize.
Kuttuny argues this should have been done earlier.
A sport check by Hot News shows most large scale farmers in Trans Nzoia are yet to plough land a week to planting time.
It has been a tradition in the area to prepare land in December and January to pave way for planting in the month of February.
Deputy president William Ruto has asked farmers in the region to diversify to avocado and macadamia.
However, his advice has been opposed by Kuttuny, his counterparts Silas Tiren(Moiben) and Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills).