Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has kicked off thousands of bags of cheap fertilizer destined for the country’s agricultural sector.
Speaking on Friday, February 3, at the Mombasa railway terminus, the DP Gachagua said the government has put much effort into the distribution of affordable farm inputs so that farmers could access them in time for the planting season set to start next month.
“The Kenya Kwanza administration is significantly focused on boosting agricultural productivity to ensure the cost of food reduces giving a better chance to the cost of living,” said Rigathi Gachagua.
The first batch of 17,840 bags carried by Kenya Railways wagons is destined for Nakuru County. Another 17,840 bags are headed to Webuye in Bungoma.
The outlined counties set to benefit from the subsidy program include Kakamega, Nandi, Narok, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Migori, Bomet, and Kericho respectively.
The government plans to distribute at least 6 million bags of subsidized fertilizers as it aims to significantly reduce the cost of production of staple foods such as maize and other cereals.
Notably, Farmers will now buy the fertilizers at a reduced cost of Ksh 3, 500 per bag. This is down from the Ksh 6,000 market price.
“We ask our farmers to take advantage of this program which aims at increasing production in their farms. The price of UNGA will come down. So far it has been reducing and we expect the prices to go down further,” Gachagua said.
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Deputy President earlier visited ETG and Yara fertilizer Warehouses in Jomvu Sub County, Mombasa to confirm the packaging of the fertilizers in readiness for transportation to the pilot counties.
In his visit to Mombasa, Deputy President was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports, and Arts Ababu Namwamba, Principal Secretary for Crop Development Philip Harsama, and Principal Secretary for Cabinet Affairs Julius Korir.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir and Jomvu MP Badi Twalib and the Managing Director Kenya National Trading Corporation Pamela Mutua were also present during the process.
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