Farmers who have delivered their maize to the National Cereals and Produce Board stores in the North Rift region will be paid this week at a cost of sh 1,200 per bag. The area manager Lamech Oyugi said so far the region had received 100,000 bags of maize over the last one week when the cereals board started buying the crop from farmers. Mr. Oyugi said he expected disbursement of funds from the head office any time this week and promised that farmers would be paid promptly for their deliveries. Mr. Oyugi said the region had also bought 30,000 bags of wheat so far at a cost of sh 1600 per bag and promised the few farmers who have not yet been paid that they would also be paid this week. The board's opening of its stores to maize and wheat deliveries has been lauded by many farmers in the region who say the move would help stabilize prices of both maize and wheat in the region. Before the board's action, middlemen and millers had cashed in on farmers desparation and started buying the two crops at sh. 800 and sh 1300 respectively. The farmers hoped the cereals board will this time round honor its promise of paying them on time so that they can use the funds to prepare their farms early for next planting season.