Maize Farmers to Wait Longer for Subsidized Fertilizer

The rainy season is here with us once again, which states clearly that farmers should be preparing themselves for the planting season, especially those from the North Rift region who are known to be large scale farmers of maize in the country.

Farmers who had already prepared their lands in readiness for the planting season will likely have to wait a bit longer before planting due to the delay in the distribution of subsidized fertilizer by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).

Most of the farmers are used to preparing their farms before the start of the rains, and they ensure that they have at least done with the planting process too, so that when the rains come, the only thing left is for the seeds to germinate. This will not be the case this year, and most of them seem not to be happy about it.

The NCPB is the main supplier of fertilizer and seeds to these farmers since their prices tend to be abit cheaper and affordable compared to those of retail sellers. NCPB sells a bag of fertilizer at Sh.1,800 per bag, while retailers sell the same bag between Sh.2,400-3000, thus forcing farmers to go for the government price.

Some of the farmers were lucky enough to get a share of the subsidized fertilizer which was left from the last season, but a good number of them will have to continue waiting. The government has promised that the fertilizer will be in the country by Friday, then the distribution process will follow, which is expected to be through by next week Wednesday.

Importation of the fertilizer might have been delayed by the presence of the elnino rains in the country from late last year till early this year. Most people thought that the rains will delay and start abit late after the normal planting season, which seem not to be the case.

Article by Vera Shawiza.