Senators demand answers over idle maize driers and NCPB arrears

The Senate Agriculture Committee has raised concern that a Sh10 billion debt owed to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) by the government could grind the agency’s operations to a halt just as farmers prepare for harvest.

Committee chair David Wafula said in Eldoret on Monday that the debt, accrued from fertiliser distribution to farmers, has yet to be cleared despite the board fulfilling government directives.

“As the government gives directives to NCPB to take fertiliser deep down to villages, the national government has not footed part of their bills to NCPB,” Wafula said.

The committee warned that unless both national and county governments release the funds, the debt would cripple NCPB’s capacity to handle harvest season activities, including last-mile fertiliser distribution set to begin in October.

Fertiliser distribution closer to farmers was launched last year, but according to the senators, the board has not been compensated for carrying out the work.

Wafula said the committee would demand explanations from both the Ministry of Agriculture and counties over their failure to pay what is owed.

“Many counties have not paid their dues to NCPB, hence crippling the capacity of NCPB to roll out proper services,” he added.

The committee also criticised the state of maize driers distributed to counties last year, saying many of them are lying idle while those managed by NCPB are fully operational.

“As a committee, we will move to demand an explanation and swift action from the national government that purchased the dryers to ensure that they don’t remain idle. They must be turned into proper equipment to serve farmers,” Wafula said.

The Ministry of Agriculture had procured 15 mobile driers in a plan to reduce post-harvest losses and eliminate aflatoxin contamination.

The machines were delivered to maize-producing counties including Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, Nandi, Bungoma, West Pokot, Kakamega, Narok, Kericho, Migori, Bomet, Baringo, Nyandarua, Laikipia and Elgeyo Marakwet.

At the launch, the ministry had promised that the equipment would be moved directly to farmers, saving them the cost of transporting their produce to drying centres.

Farmers were, however, expected to pay Sh70 per 90-kg bag of maize to reduce moisture levels to the required 13.5 per cent.

The senators further noted that the delayed merger between NCPB and the Strategic Food Reserve has created anxiety among staff, with many uncertain about their future.