First Consignment Of Subsidized Fertilizer Commissioned

By Jane Muia / Published September 22, 2022 | 4:22 pm

KEY POINTS

Farmers will purchase a 50kg bag of DAP fertilizer at 3,500 shillings, CAN at 2,875 shillings, and urea at 3,500 shillings. At the same time, NPK will retail at 3,275 shillings, MOP at 1,775, and Sulphate of Ammonia at 2,220 shillings.

The deputy president of Kenya Rigathi Gachagua on Thursday flagged off the first batch of subsidized fertilizer to various parts of the country. The commissioning according to the DP is in line with the promise given by William Ruto of ensuring affordable farm inputs to boost food production.

“I appeal to farmers in the regions that are receiving short rains to reach out to local National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) Depots and Sub-Depots to access the required fertilizer,” said Gachagua.

The DP also announced that the government had released 3.55 billion shillings for the fertilizer subsidy kitty. In addition, the Ruto-led administration had availed 1.4 million bags of fertilizer to the farmers, in a move meant to increase food production amid projections of depressed rains.

Each farmer will be entitled to 100 bags (50kg) in a move that will see around 1.4 million acres of land cultivated.

“We are privy to all fertilizer requirements for the long rains season 2023, the government has commenced consultations with key actors and stakeholders to ensure quality affordably, and accessible fertilizer that will be available to all farmers across the nation,’ he said.

Section of farmers has been blaming the government for delaying subsidized fertilizer in the country. The farmers added that the majority of them do not access the subsidized fertilizer, pushing them to plant with insufficient inputs, a move that will highly impact production later in the year.

The World Bank 2019/20 Kenya Economic Update indicates that subsidized fertilizer majorly benefits affluent farmers and companies that distribute the manure. Kenya requires about 650,000 tonnes of fertilizer annually for enhanced production.

The agriculture cabinet secretary Peter Munya attributed the price hike to recent commodity inflation occasioned by the recovery of businesses post covid 19 pandemic, as well as restricted efforts in countries like China, Russia, and Turkey to protect their farmers against reduced global supplies.