Farmers in Trans Nzoia County have been urged to visit the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) Kitale depot and redeem their subsidized fertilizer e-vouchers.
Gideon Oyagi, the County Commissioner said the subsidised fertilizer is meant to lower the cost of production and achieve food and nutrition security.
Speaking to the press after flagging off of offloading of the first consignment of 2,880 bags of planting fertilizer, Oyagi said the government is committed to ensuring that Kenyans are free from hunger and related effects.
“The government of Kenya under the leadership of President William Ruto has an agenda that we have sufficient food to feed ourselves and surplus for export that is why fertilizer was subsidised,” Oyagi stated.
Warning over sale of subsidized fertilizer
However, the county security committee chair fired a warning shot to rogue farmers who buy fertilizer intending to resell that they will be dealt with accordingly.
“This fertilizer is meant for genuine farmers who buy them for planting purposes and anyone who thinks this is an opportunity to do business with our subsidised fertilizer should think otherwise because there is no room for them,” he warned.
On her part, Trans Nzoia County Agriculture County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Phanice Khatundi said her department will facilitate last-mile distribution to wards level.
“As a county, we shall do last-mile distribution of this fertilizer to our warehouses in every ward. This will significantly reduce the cost of production and afterwards increase profit margins,” Khatundi said.
She also urged farmers to embrace blended fertilizers to get more yields.
“Majority of our soils in Trans Nzoia are acidic and that is why we discourage the use of DAP fertiliser and we promote the use of blended fertilizer,” she said.
How many bags of subsidized fertilizer will be available for farmers in Trans Nzoia?
Milcah Lunani, the NCPB depot manager said they will immediately begin selling the planting fertilizer to farmers who have received their e-vouchers.
“We are expecting more than 300,000 planting and top-dressing fertilizers. We urge farmers to redeem their vouchers immediately so that they can have adequate time to prepare their farms,” Lunani said.
She further urged farmers who have not received their e-vouchers to be patient as the Ministry of Agriculture works to send them.
Over 100,000 farmers were registered by the Ministry of Agriculture last year.
