The problem between the wheat farmers and the millers has been fixed. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe held an all-day meeting to help them agree.
Farmers in Narok, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, and Timau have been protesting. They are upset because the millers are not paying them enough money for their wheat. The farmers and millers had an agreement about the prices, but the millers were not following it.
CS Kagwe told the millers they must buy all the wheat from local farmers that they have not bought yet, about 400,000 bags. After the millers buy this wheat, the government will give them licenses to import wheat from other countries.
The millers have 260,000 bags of wheat waiting at the port in Mombasa. They have to pay a fee for each day the wheat sits there. The millers have already bought 1.3 million bags of wheat from the local farmers.
CS Kagwe also told the farmers to sell their wheat at the agreed prices. Grade 1 wheat should sell for Sh5,300 per bag, and Grade 2 wheat should sell for Sh5,200 per bag. He said the farmers should not take less money than this.
A new group called the Wheat Sector Standing Committee will work to ensure everyone follows the 2010 agreement. This agreement says the millers must buy wheat from local farmers at certain prices. The committee includes people from the ministry, county governments, and other important groups.
The ministry will make this committee official. The committee will work to stop the drop in Kenya's wheat production. Right now, Kenya only grows 8% of the wheat it uses each year. The country needs about 26 million bags of wheat every year.
The committee will make sure the millers buy the wheat they are supposed to from local farmers. The millers can only get special permission to bring in wheat from other countries if they buy enough from Kenyan farmers first.
CS Kagwe asked the committee to use technology to track important information. This will help ensure that everyone is honest and fair. It will also help farmers earn more money and ensure that the country has enough good food for everyone.
Many important people attended the meeting, including governors, senators, members of parliament, and leaders from different government departments and groups that work with farmers and millers.
Farmers in Narok, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, and Timau have been protesting. They are upset because the millers are not paying them enough money for their wheat. The farmers and millers had an agreement about the prices, but the millers were not following it.
CS Kagwe told the millers they must buy all the wheat from local farmers that they have not bought yet, about 400,000 bags. After the millers buy this wheat, the government will give them licenses to import wheat from other countries.
The millers have 260,000 bags of wheat waiting at the port in Mombasa. They have to pay a fee for each day the wheat sits there. The millers have already bought 1.3 million bags of wheat from the local farmers.
CS Kagwe also told the farmers to sell their wheat at the agreed prices. Grade 1 wheat should sell for Sh5,300 per bag, and Grade 2 wheat should sell for Sh5,200 per bag. He said the farmers should not take less money than this.
A new group called the Wheat Sector Standing Committee will work to ensure everyone follows the 2010 agreement. This agreement says the millers must buy wheat from local farmers at certain prices. The committee includes people from the ministry, county governments, and other important groups.
The ministry will make this committee official. The committee will work to stop the drop in Kenya's wheat production. Right now, Kenya only grows 8% of the wheat it uses each year. The country needs about 26 million bags of wheat every year.
The committee will make sure the millers buy the wheat they are supposed to from local farmers. The millers can only get special permission to bring in wheat from other countries if they buy enough from Kenyan farmers first.
CS Kagwe asked the committee to use technology to track important information. This will help ensure that everyone is honest and fair. It will also help farmers earn more money and ensure that the country has enough good food for everyone.
Many important people attended the meeting, including governors, senators, members of parliament, and leaders from different government departments and groups that work with farmers and millers.
