NAIROBI, Kenya – Farmers across the country will begin delivering their wheat to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) starting Tuesday as the government moves to address a looming crisis of unsold grain.
Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe directed all wheat farmers and aggregators to take their produce to NCPB warehouses, assuring them of payment within 30 days of delivery.
This intervention follows mounting concerns from farmers, particularly in Narok, who have struggled to find buyers due to millers’ preference for cheaper imported wheat.
“We will not allow anyone to sabotage this process by bringing in imported wheat. Those found doing so will be arrested,” Kagwe warned.
The directive is part of a broader strategy to stabilize the wheat sector, ensure fair prices for farmers, and reduce reliance on imports.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NCPB and millers is set to be signed, allowing millers to collect wheat from the board and guaranteeing farmers payment within 14 to 21 days after collection.
Currently, local wheat accounts for only 8% of millers’ demand, but the government is pushing to increase that to over 40% in the coming years.
Officials say the NCPB collection initiative will also help create a comprehensive farmer database, aiding in the distribution of subsidized fertilizer and lowering production costs.
The announcement came after a high-level meeting at Kilimo House on Monday, attended by key agricultural stakeholders, including Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh, NCPB Managing Director Samuel Karogo, and representatives from the Cereal Millers Association (CMA) and the Cereal Growers Association (CGA).
With the wheat marketing season now in full swing, all eyes will be on how effectively the government implements its plan—and whether farmers finally get the relief they have long been demanding.
