By:Robert Mutasi
Cereal farmers in Narok County have threatened to stage demonstrations over what they describe as exploitative prices for wheat and maize, warning that the current market rates are driving them into heavy financial losses despite soaring production costs.
The farmers, who gathered at a grain handling facility in the county on Tuesday, accused millers and the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) of offering prices that do not reflect the rising cost of farm inputs, fuel, labour and other production expenses.
According to the farmers, a 90-kilogram bag of wheat is currently selling for between KSh 3,500 and KSh 4,000, a sharp decline from more than KSh 5,500 recorded during the previous season. Maize prices have also fallen to below KSh 3,000 per 90-kilogram bag.
They argued that the low prices are unsustainable and could force many small- and large-scale farmers to abandon cereal farming altogether.
Speaking during the meeting, Narok Wheat and Maize Farmers Association Chairman Stanley Koonyo accused cartels of manipulating the market by suppressing prices immediately after harvest, when farmers have limited storage options and are under pressure to sell.
“The cost of fertilizer, certified seeds and diesel has continued to rise, yet buyers want to purchase our wheat at only KSh 3,700 per bag. This is unacceptable. If the government does not intervene, we will take to the streets and pour our grain onto the roads in protest,” Koonyo said.
The farmers also raised concerns over inadequate storage facilities, saying many have been forced to dry maize in the open, exposing it to rain, birds and pests, resulting in post-harvest losses.
They claimed that both government and privately owned grain silos remain underutilized while harvested produce continues to deteriorate on farms. Some farmers have reportedly resorted to constructing temporary storage structures to preserve their harvest.
Another farmer said many producers had borrowed money to finance this season’s planting and now risk losing their property after failing to repay loans due to the depressed market prices.
The farmers appealed to President William Ruto and the Ministry of Agriculture to urgently intervene by introducing guaranteed minimum prices of KSh 5,800 per 90-kilogram bag of wheat and KSh 4,500 per bag of maize.
They also called on the government to purchase surplus grain through the NCPB and intensify efforts to curb what they described as an influx of imported grain, which they say is depressing local market prices.
By Tuesday evening, the Ministry of Agriculture had not issued a response to the farmers’ demands.
