The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has urged the government to intervene and rescue wheat farmers in Narok and North Rift, who are struggling to sell their bumper harvest due to an influx of cheap imports.
In a statement on Wednesday, ODM warned that the crisis is pushing farmers into financial distress and threatening food security. The party said failure to act would deepen poverty, unemployment, and economic instability in farming regions.
“A nation that mistreats its farmers is courting food insecurity, deepening poverty, and fuelling mass unemployment,” said acting party leader Anyang’ Nyong’o.
ODM outlined four key measures the government must implement immediately, including directing the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to buy local wheat at fair prices and regulating imports to protect farmers from unfair competition. The party also called for immediate storage and logistical support to prevent post-harvest losses, as well as financial relief for affected farmers through loan restructuring options.
ODM blamed the crisis on “well-connected individuals” importing cheap wheat and flooding the market, making it impossible for local farmers to compete. The party termed it unacceptable for farmers to be abandoned despite government efforts to boost production through subsidies.
“The plight of wheat farmers is a national crisis that requires immediate and decisive action. The government must act now to protect food producers and secure the country’s agricultural future,” the statement read.
Narok County, a key wheat-producing region, has seen farmers harvest up to 20 bags (90kg each) per acre, with prices ranging between Sh4,000 and Sh5,000 per bag. However, despite the bumper harvest, millers have shown little interest in purchasing the wheat.
Early this month, wheat farmers in Narok raised concerns over poor market prices. According to Stanley Koonyo, their chairman, over 10 million bags of wheat harvested since August remain in stores with no buyers.
“We invested in fertilisers and chemicals to ensure a good harvest, yet there’s no market for our produce,” said Koonyo, calling on the Department of Agriculture to intervene.
Koonyo noted that Narok’s wheat production accounts for only five per cent of the country’s consumption. He questioned how the government plans to handle increased production if farmers meet the target of 10 per cent.
“The government has been urging us to increase production, and that is why we purchased fertiliser at subsidised rates. But what worries us most is that there is no market for our produce,” he said.
The Cereal Growers Association (CGA), Narok Branch, also expressed frustration, noting that unlike previous years, millers have not rushed to buy their wheat.
Farmers are now calling for urgent government intervention, warning that continued inaction will cripple wheat farming and push them into heavy financial losses.
