The fertiliser subsidy program has been facing challenges for the past few weeks with counterfeit products, which the government is actively seizing. Despite this issue, Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Rono noted that fertilizer usage has risen, contributing to an uptick in the 2023 maize yield. However, unscrupulous traders continue to exploit farmers.
Rono announced the government’s plan to distribute 12.5 million bags of fertilizer this year, allocating 7.5 million bags for the long rainy season and the remaining five million bags for the short rainy season. Currently, 2.4 million bags of subsidized fertilizer have been distributed to farmers nationwide for the March-April-May planting period.
“Last year, we distributed 5.8 million bags and due to the fertiliser subsidy, production increased from 34 million bags to 61 million bags. We are expecting to hit 100 million bags this year,” the PS said.
The PS further said the government has started compensating farmers who had bought the substandard fertiliser.
“The government has fixed the problem of fake fertiliser and farmers have started receiving compensation. We ask farmers who may have received the fake fertiliser to come to our stores so we can replace it with genuine one,” he added.
Joseph Kimote, the managing director of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), reassured farmers that the problem of the 60,000 bags of substandard fertilizer has been resolved. He also stated that NCPB has expanded its operations by opening more than 200 selling centers nationwide, a significant increase from the 50 centers operational last year.
Kipkorir Menjo, chairman of the Kenya Farmers Association, praised the subsidy fertilizer program as a beneficial initiative that, if managed effectively, can significantly boost food production. He emphasized the importance of empowering farmers to achieve food security and meet both local and export market demands.
Menjo highlighted the need for counties in North Rift and South Rift regions, such as Elgeyo Marakwet, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, Kericho, Bomet, and Narok, to organize their fertilizer procurement independently to avoid delays.
He suggested that addressing such issues at the county level could improve efficiency. Additionally, Menjo urged the government to implement policy frameworks that discourage the subdivision of high-production areas into smaller, less efficient plots, emphasizing the benefits of larger consolidated areas for cultivation.
