Don't shun fertiliser, use it to boost yields, Kitui farmers told

Kitui Agriculture and Livestock executive Stephen Kimwele has urged farmers to embrace use of fertiliser to improve crop production.

He however, cautioned that fertiliser, including the government's subsidised one must be used with guidance from agronomists.

Kimwele said lack of knowledge on how to apply fertiliser has affected yields and destroyed soils.

“In Ukambani specifically in Kitui, farmers despise the use of fertiliser. They have a misplaced notion that fertiliser adversely affects farm production. That is ignorance," he said.

“This is a mind set we must rid ourselves of because fertiliser has been used in many areas and for long in Kenya and across the world with impressive outcomes."

Kimwele urged resistered farmers to visit NCPB depots.

On Friday, the CEC visited the Kitui town NCPB depot following the arrival of the subsidised fertiliser ahead of the long rains.

Kimwele and Agriculture chief officer Gladys Kivoto were received by the depot manager, Patricia Kimani.

Kitui NCPB depot got 128 bags of planting  fertiliser and 1,606 bags of top dressing fertiliser.  Kyuso and Mwingi depots received 666 bags of fertiliser.

“The fertiliser is available at our NCPB depots at the cost of Sh2,500 a bag," he said.

“When you  use fertiliser with technical guidance from an agricultural extension officer you would not go wrong and ultimately you would get good yields.” 

Kimwele said rain levels in Kitui have gone down due to climate change.

He urged farmers to use emerging agricultural technologies to get maximum yields.

“And because we have extension officers at village and ward levels, farmers should take advantage and learn from them how to perfectly apply the fertilizer on their land for good yields,” Kimwele said.