Farmers are at ease accessing fertilizers at affordable prices for the first time since the impact of the Ukraine-Russia war that affected the pricing. President Ruto has come to the rescue of the pricing that had soared.
The state has set aside Ksh3.55 billion through the National Treasury to implement President William Ruto’s directive.
The ministry of agriculture in a statement said that in an aim at actualizing the promise made by the president, the fertilizer program is prioritized in counties that are undergoing the planting season currently with the short rains.
“The government has availed Ksh3.55 billion to subsidize 71,000 metric tonnes (1.42 million x 50 Kg bags) of fertilizer for growing food crops during the short rains season,” read part of the statement dated Tuesday, September 20.
Up to 1.4 million bags of fertilizers were released to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) on Monday, September 19, and are to arrive in depots across the counties and sub-depots throughout the country.
“The Ministry appeals to farmers requiring fertilizers in the short rains dependent areas to visit the nearest NCPB depot or sub-depot to access the subsidized fertilizer,” read the statement in parts.
The objective has enabled every farmer access to a maximum of 100 bags of 50kg fertilizer at a cost of Ksh 3,500 as declared by the president from the ksh 6,500.
UREA was subsidized to Ksh3,500, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (NPK) will sell at Ksh3,725. Muriate of potash (MOP) will retail at Ksh1,775, di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) will go for Ksh3,500, Calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) will retail at Ksh2,875, while Sulphate of Ammonia will go for Ksh2,220.
A move that has raised hopes among the farmers entering the planting season though highly critiqued by citizens who view it as a slow answer to the dire issue at hand.
The president during his inauguration had emphasized that his government would ensure focus is placed on production rather than consumption through the subsidy programs he withdrew.
