• Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya said the long rain season has started but most farmers have not received fertiliser for planting.
• Farmers have jammed NCPB depots in the North Rift to collect the subsidised fertiliser.
Image: BY MATHEWS NDANYI
Farmers in North Rift have started planting maize amid complaints over delayed distribution of subsidised fertiliser and questionable quality of the input.
Some farmers warned that production of maize could drop this year because of fears of fake fertilisers.
Counties have asked the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to hasten distribution of the subsidised fertiliser.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya said the long rain season has started but most farmers have not received fertiliser for planting.
“The ministry should work with the counties to ensure the fertiliser is accessible in rural areas,” he said.
Natembeya said this would help cut transportation costs by farmers who are forced to source the fertiliser from major towns.
He spoke to farmers in Wiyeta, Bidii and Wehoya in Cherangany, Kwanza and Kiminini subcounties during a free maize seed distribution drive.
"Let the government give us an opportunity to deliver the fertiliser to villages," Natembeya said.
"The government should consider further reducing the cost of a 50kg bag of fertiliser to minimise production cost. For a farmer to make profit from maize farming, a bag of fertiliser should be subsidised to Sh1,000."
Natembeya was accompanied by MCAs John Makhanu (Sinyereri), Obed Mwale (Matisi), Edwin Kosgey (Suwerwa), Alfred Weswa (Sirende), Francis Mwangi (Bidii), Kisiang'ani Wambwa (Machewa) and Tabitha Waruguru (nominated).
Agriculture executive Phanice Khatundi, her chief officer Sammy Sichangi, Joseph Wasike (roads) and Patrick Osoro (livestock development), and chief of staff Dickson Wamocho were present.
Farmers have jammed NCPB depots in the North Rift to collect the subsidised fertiliser.
Long queues are being witnessed at the NCPB depots in Eldoret and Kapsabet.
Agriculture PS Paul Rono and area MPs have urged farmers to continue buying the subsidised fertiliser from NCPB depots, with promises that the government had taken action to ensure there is no distribution of fake fertiliser.
The PS said in Eldoret, the government has planned to distribute more than 12 million bags of subsidised fertiliser during the short and long rainy seasons.
“We have distributed more than 2 million bags and more fertiliser is being delivered to all areas and nearest points where farmers can easily access it,” Rono said.
MPs from Uasin Gishu including Julius Rutto (Kesses), Janet Sitienei (Turbo) and Phylis Bartoo (Moiben) assured farmers the government would ensure the fertiliser being distributed is of good quality.
“We are asking the government to ensure that anyone involved in selling fake fertiliser is held and prosecuted for economic sabotage,” Rutto said.
The MPs said they would also play their role of oversight to ensure all government officials handling the subsidised fertiliser do so in an effective and transparent manner.
They said the subsidised fertiliser distributed to farmers last year was of high quality and led to increased production.