Delayed payments to maize farmers by NCPB

Prayer

THAT, aware that Kenya depends on agriculture for economic growth and development over the decades and that agriculture is the largest contributor to Kenya's Gross Domestic Product (GDP); THAT, Rift Valley Region has been the backbone of maize growing in the country and that maize is Kenya's staple food consumed by 90 per cent of the population; THAT, since January 2018 maize producers in the Rift Valley Region delivered maize to the NCPB and to-date they have not been paid their dues totaling Kshs3.5 billion; THAT, during the 2017/2018 season the NCPB committed over Kshs11 billion in Strategic Food Reserves (SFR) for maize purchases, out of which Kshs7 billion was disbursed to NCPB from Strategic Food Reserve accounts for payment to farmers leaving an outstanding ba