District will continue subsidise prices for copra: MP

Business

THE Sumkar development authority (DDA) will continue to subsidise prices for copra and other cash crops, says MP Chris Nangoi.
Nangoi visited copra farmers at Mirap village last week along with Agriculture Minister John Simon.
Nangoi said he had seen that through the subsidy programme, huge amounts of copra had been produced by farmers.
People have benefitted from the proceeds to improve their lives and pay school fees.
“When we sit for the next DDA, we will decide on how much we will allocate to subsidise the price for copra in the district,” Nangoi said.
Copra prices in Sumkar were previously 80 toea or 90 toea per kilo.
With the subsidy, it went up to K1.50 or K2 per kilo.
Mirap councillor Joseph Yamai said the subsidy had resulted in an increase in production with around two tonnes produced in a week.
“In the past, we produced around 50 bags per day.
“Now we are looking at 200 bags brought to the buyer, Pristine Ltd,” he said.
Simon pledged K500,000 to support various agriculture projects in Sumkar.