Farmers record a decline in the wheat crop

The wheat harvest in the North Rift is expected to fall by 30 percent due to high production costs, heavy rains and delays in delivery.

"Time has made mechanization difficult, and wheat cultivation must be fully mechanized, unlike maize where planting can be done by hand. The finances could have been a contributing factor given the NCPB's late payments, "said Trans Nzoia's Minister of Agriculture, Mary Nzomo

who is also chair of a caucus of 47 executives agricultural products

. The rift is mainly grown in Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu and parts of Elgeyo-Marakwet counties.

Kenya produces less than 500,000 tonnes of wheat compared with consumption of more than one million tonnes, forcing the country to import to fill the gap. Farmers who spoke to the Sunday Nation said that they have reduced the area under cultivation.

million. George Kibet, a wheat producer from Moiben, said that he had reduced the area to 50 plants last season and sowed more corn.

The government had raised prices because of the high cost of production due to the invasion of legionaries in autumn and the reported drought in the country.

"In 2017 and 2018, the government increased prices to Sh3,000 and Sh3200 per 90 kilogram bag that made most of us to reduce the number of acres under the harvest of wheat, "he added.

For the farmer, the cost of producing corn is relatively lower than that of wheat. The cost of producing corn per acre is 33,000 shillings, compared to 38,000 shillings for wheat.

"From an acre, a c + one gets an average of 15 bags while corn can receive 30 bags." Herbicides and fungicides are also expensive because you have to make up to three diets. spraying, but the market prices are between 2600 and 3000 shillings, "he said.

The diesel reached a record 105 shillings per liter of Sh85 and you have to feed the equipment to various operations that most farmers can not afford. "

Mrs. Helen Kirarei, a farmer from Cheplaskei in Kesses who provided 400 bags to the Cereals Commission in January is among those who have not yet received their She had hoped to obtain a quick payment to enable her to grow wheat, but this was not the case.

The council owes her more than 1.4 million shillings for her deliveries and the delay in payment has resulted in a reduction of the culture of e 50 acres last season at only 30.