A section of Trans Nzoia farmers feels they were duped by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya when he promised that every registered farmer will receive a maximum of 20 bags of 50Kg subsidized fertilizers.
In a spot check done by Uasin Gishu News at National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), Kitale depot, the store does not have the vital commodity and frustrated farmers are forced to go back home.
Fredrick Rono, a large-scale farmer in the Kibomet area told Uasin Gishu News that the CS is playing politics using the fertilizer issue.
“He left this depot after assuring us that there are sufficient fertilizers for all the farmers in their database. We are not asking for the 20 bags he promised. We need the five that was initially promised,” Rono said.
Ezekiel Kemboi, another maize farmer in Kobos area of Kwanza constituency said they have lost hope of planting commercial maize because they are not seeing any possibility of receiving the subsidized fertilizer.
“This is my third day coming here, every day I spent over Ksh600 in terms of transport. The bitter thing is that I am not seeing light at the end of the tunnel. I’m now thinking of doing maize for my family consumption,” Kemboi said.
Daniel Tallam a farmer in Cherangany constituency said if the situation is not addressed urgently, the country is likely to witness a serious food crisis next year.
“We Trans Nzoia farmers feed this country, but it is like the government of Kenya has forgotten us. This is an election year, what will happen with a hungry nation during elections?” Tallam asked.
He called on CS Peter Munya to revisit his promise and provide them with clear information so that they are not left out in the food security pillar of the Big Four Agenda.
NCPB Corporate Communications Manager Titus Maiyo, however, said the shortage of subsidized fertilizer is attributed to the high demand for agricultural commodity in the country.
“You know we don’t sell our own fertilizer. We sell what we get from dealers and local manufacturers. As for the 20 bags price promise made by the CS, we are yet to receive official communication on the same, we, therefore, sell five bags,” Maiyo revealed.
Last week, Munya said the government had set aside KSh.5.7 to use in the fertilizer subsidy program where a 50kg bag of DAP fertilizer should be sold at KSh2,800 at NCPB depots.
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