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NCPB, Agro-processors Association of Kenya in deal to enhance grain management
NCPB managing director, Joseph Kimote (left) and Agro processors Association of Kenya chairman, Anthony Ndirangu when they signed the deal to enhance grain management and value addition services.
What you need to know:
- NCPB managing director Joseph Kimote, said in the agreement, the two organisations will collaborate.
- The deal, he added, is in line with the current NCPB/strategic food reserve reforms being implemented.
- APAK chairman, Anthony Ndirangu said the deal will go a long way in enabling them to buy and aggregate maize and store it in well managed and professionally run warehouses.
The National cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and the Agro-processors Association of Kenya (APAK) have signed a deal to enhance grain management and value addition services in the country.
The deal provides a framework to enable efficient use of grain handling and storage facilities for preserving the quality and value of cereals and grains keeping them in good condition for collateralisation and processing.
NCPB managing director Joseph Kimote, said in the agreement, the two organisations will collaborate in issues touching on grain handling and storage, grain quality testing especially for aflatoxin, and fumigation, as well as capacity building.
“But the most important notion in the partnership is to add value to Kenyans, promote food and nutrition security and achieve the aspirations as per the Big 4 Agenda on food security,” said Mr Kimote.
The deal, he indicated, is in line with the current NCPB/strategic food reserve reforms being implemented and whose deliverables include the cereals board ceding 7 million 90kg-bag storage spaces to the private sector.
Opportunities for farmers
This is aimed at enhancing their participation along the agriculture value chain.
“The partnership will result in creating an efficient and competitive market for agricultural produce,” he added.
APAK chairman, Anthony Ndirangu said the deal will go a long way in enabling them to buy and aggregate maize and store it in well managed and professionally run warehouses.
“We believe and are sure this partnership will benefit our members, helping them to plan ahead and protect themselves from future price fluctuations and instabilities which could affect their business,” he said.
He expressed his appreciation of the agreement, which he fronted as not only geared towards improving productivity, but also securing safe food to Kenyan consumers and at the same time open up opportunities for farmers to access markets through a structured warehouse model.
