Wheat farmers in Narok County are facing significant challenges due to a lack of market for their produce. Despite a bumper harvest resulting from favorable weather conditions last year, over 10 million bags of wheat (90 kilograms each) remain unsold in storage since the harvesting season began in August 2024.
Stanley Koonyo, the chairman of the Narok County Cereal Growers Association, expressed his frustration, noting that despite the farmers’ efforts to purchase farm inputs like fertilizers and chemicals to ensure a good harvest and improve food security, their produce remains unsold. He emphasized that the wheat produced in Narok accounts for only five percent of the wheat consumed in the country and questioned what would happen if they increased production to 10 percent as per their ambitions.
The farmers have called on the Department of Agriculture to intervene and provide solutions to their predicament, as many of them have taken out loans to finance their farming activities. Nicholas Mwangi, the treasurer of the Narok branch of the Cereal Growers Association, highlighted the contrast with previous years when their wheat was easily sold to millers at a profit. He mentioned that despite following up with relevant authorities, their efforts have not yielded any results.
Matiko Ole Sadera, a large-scale wheat farmer, shared his concerns about the full warehouses and the inability to store more wheat for the next harvest. He also mentioned that he had purchased 350 bags of fertilizer using a bank loan and is now worried about the lack of a market for his wheat.
Narok County is known for its wheat farming, with one acre of wheat capable of producing up to 20 bags, each sold between Sh4,000 and Sh5,000. The wheat is mainly produced in the Mau regions, where the climate is favorable for the crop.
The farmers are now uncertain about whether to plant wheat again this season, given the current situation. They are urging the government and relevant authorities to take immediate action to address the market challenges and prevent further losses.
