NAIROBI, Kenya – The government has stepped in to prevent a looming crisis among wheat farmers following complaints about stranded produce due to a lack of buyers.
On Monday, March 3, the Ministry of Agriculture, led by Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, announced that the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) would begin collecting 321,000 bags of wheat from farmers nationwide. Farmers have been directed to deliver their wheat to NCPB warehouses starting March 4, 2025.
To support farmers and prevent further backlog, the government has committed to making payments within 30 days of delivery. Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NCPB and millers ensures that millers will collect wheat from NCPB, with farmers receiving payment within 14 to 21 days.
The intervention is expected to provide relief to wheat farmers, particularly those in Narok, who recently raised concerns about being stuck with large quantities of wheat after a bumper harvest. As of February, an estimated 10 million 90-kilogram bags remained in storage since the harvesting season began in August 2024.
Farmers have blamed the situation on millers who prefer cheaper imported wheat over locally produced grain. This practice has undermined local farmers who continue to invest in improving wheat quality while striving to maintain competitive market prices.
To address this challenge, CS Kagwe warned millers against attempting to manipulate the system by introducing imported wheat into the NCPB’s supply chain, cautioning that such actions would result in severe penalties.
The government is also working towards reducing wheat imports by encouraging local farmers to increase production to meet 40% of the demand from millers, up from the current percentage.
In addition, the direct collection of wheat by the NCPB aligns with the government’s broader strategy to establish a national database of farmers. This initiative will facilitate the fair distribution of subsidized fertilizers and other agricultural inputs, ultimately improving the quality and competitiveness of local wheat production.
The move is expected to restore confidence among farmers and ensure the sustainability of wheat farming in the country.
