Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has officially launched a 45,000-ton consignment of subsidized fertilizer for tea farmers at the Port of Mombasa.
This marks the second consignment, following the receipt of the initial shipment comprising 47,800 tonnes (956,000 bags) in October 2023, which has already been distributed to farmers.
Priced at KES 2,500 per 50kg bag, the fertilizer will be available at the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA). Linturi announced that the government plans to provide an additional 7 million bags in the upcoming year.
“This initiative aligns with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), targeting priority value chains. The government’s focus on supplying fertilizer aims to enhance the competitiveness of crop production, sustain agricultural productivity, and contribute to managing the cost of living,” he stated.
Emphasizing the government’s dedication to supporting small-scale farmers by facilitating access to essential inputs, Linturi asserted that this approach would shield them from the volatility of free market prices, allowing for competitive crop production and cost of living management.
Within the framework of the transformative agenda, tea has been identified as a key export value chain under the grow exports pillar. Linturi affirmed that the government, in collaboration with stakeholders, is committed to both enhancing and sustaining tea productivity.
During the flagging-off ceremony, Linturi acknowledged the challenging circumstances surrounding the consignment’s arrival, attributing the delay to global conflicts. Despite these challenges, he expressed satisfaction with the introduction of more affordable 25kg fertilizer bags.
“This consignment has arrived in the country amidst extremely challenging circumstances due to global conflicts adversely affecting the industry. I am pleased to announce that this year, we have introduced 25kg bags in addition to the traditional 50kg bags to facilitate easier application of fertilizer in the farms,” Linturi remarked.
Highlighting the commitment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Linturi reiterated the goal of enabling smallholder farmers to access affordable fertilizer, safeguarding them from escalating market prices.
