The government will only provide compensation to farmers who received 3,000 bags of fertilizer identified as substandard, despite the Agriculture ministry’s assertion that there is no counterfeit fertilizer within the subsidy program.
This decision follows Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi’s remarks, placing responsibility on the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) for the substandard fertilizer issue.
During his appearance before the Senate Agriculture committee yesterday, Mr. Linturi stated that out of the 2.3 million bags of fertiliser distributed to farmers as of April 4, 2024, under the subsidy program, only 3,000 have been identified as substandard.
He mentioned that the fertilizer, produced by Kel Chemicals Limited, was discovered to contain 24 percent phosphorus instead of the recommended 26 percent.
Upon this discovery, the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary stated that on March 20, 2024, his ministry instructed the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to halt the delivery and distribution of the fertilizer to facilitate investigations.
“If the percentage of nutrients in the fertiliser does not meet the required level does not mean the fertiliser is fake. That is what the problem is currently. An error occurred in a small batch and we stopped the manufacturer. From our record, only 3,000 is affected and we have asked all the affected farmers to take back the flagged fertiliser to NCPB,” he stated.
He indicated that they have retained the funds intended for payment to the supplier of the identified fertiliser, and these resources will now be utilised to reimburse the affected farmers and mentioned that the NCPB will offer top dressing fertiliser to the impacted farmers, which will be sold to them at a reduced price below KES 2,500, or provided free of charge to those who opt not to receive reimbursement.
