Unlike in 2024 when farmers had to frequent the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots across the country, queueing for several days to collect subsidised fertilizer, this year is a different case.
Farmers collect their planting and top-dressing fertiliser the same day after paying for the commodity. This is due to early notification of farmers via SMS, timely distribution of fertilizers to NCPB depots and a working payment system.
Uasin Gishu News did a spot check at the Kitale NCPB depot in Trans Nzoia County and established that buying the subsidised fertilizer is seamless.
How long does it take to get fertilizer at NCPB?
David Wafula, a large-scale maize farmer in Cherang’any Constituency said it took him three hours to get his fertilizers.
“I salute President William Ruto on this. It never crossed my mind that I could come here and go with my fertilizer the same day without quarrels. I’m just happy, to say the least; in fact, if we continue this way, nobody will even think of putting sufurias on their heads,” Wafula stated.
Jane Tallam, (famously known as Mary Maria), a farmer and a comedian said the country’s food and nutrition security agenda is on course.
“We thought our President was joking when he said that fertilizer is waiting for farmers but we have indeed confirmed that the farm input is there,” Tallam stated.
Hellen Wamalwa, a farmer in the Sirende area of Kiminini Constituency could also not hide his joy after getting his eight bags.
“I am very certain that the fertilizer I have bought is of good quality and will give me desirable output. What we’re now waiting for is the rain so that we plant our crops,” said Wamalwa.
Last mile fertiliser distrubution in Trans Nzoia
However, other farmers led by Titus Omudambo called on the County Government of Trans Nzoia to hasten last mile distribution of fertilizers to sub-counties.
“Imagine farmers from all the five constituencies have to come here to collect their fertilizers. We need our county to take these fertilizers to stores in all our sub-counties so that we can get them easily and lower the cost of production,” he said.
NCPB Kitale depot Manager, Milkah Lunani said the government has enough fertilizers for all the farmers who have been registered.
“We have not received any complaints and we do not anticipate any this time round because there is the continuous flow of fertilizers. As we are speaking, offloading of fertilizers is ongoing and there is also another train transporting fertilizers to our depot,” Lunani.
She assured the over 50,000 registered farmers in Trans Nzoia County that they would get their preferred planting fertilizers as well as top dressing.
“We are prepared to serve all our customers so that they get the crucial farm input before the onset of long rains,” she reiterated.
Trans Nzoia County is the leading producer of maize in the country. Last year, farmers in the county harvested over 7 million bags of maize.
