• Planting has started in some areas
• Initially, the government said it would not provide subisided fertiliser, but it later released Sh2 billion for imports
Farmers have begun buying fertiliser from private dealers after failing to get subsidised imports promised by the government.
Last month, the North Rift Farmers Union signed an MoU with a private company to supply planting fertiliser for Sh3,000 per 50kg bag. They met in Eldoret. The Exports Trading Group (ETG) Inputs Kenya Ltd delivered more than one million bags ahead of the planting season. It is supplying farmers in the North Rift and plans to sell two million bags.
Planting has started in some areas. In most places, it will start in two weeks. The farmers require more than four million bags of DAP fertiliser. Initially, the government said it would not provide subisided fertiliser. It later released Sh2 billion for imports, but it will take three months for the input to reach farmers. They can no longer wait.
“That's why we have moved in quickly to provide the farmers with fertiliser at an affordable cost of Sh3,000 per 50kg bag. It’s the best deal for farmers that will also help to stabilise the prices,” businessman Bundotich Kiprop, popularly known as Buzeki, told the Star yesterday.
He said farmers need support to lower the cost of production. Otherwise, it would be unmanageable, he cautioned.
“Counties should have organised themselves to help farmers because what we have done shows that, in most cases, it not about the availability of money, but just getting organised and planning well,” Buzeki said.
There are concerns the prices could increase to more than Sh4,000 next month. Buzeki yesterday attempted to allay such fears, assuring growers that ETG will honour its deal to increase supply so it avoids a shortage that may lead to price hike.
During the signing of the MoU, ETG, represented by Charles Lewis, promised to meet farmers' demands. It said it would provide quality fertiliser, which has been tested and approved by the Kenya Bureau of Standards and other quality standards agencies.
"ETG has committed itself to provide the fertiliser needed by the farmers and we will also buy maize from them," Lewis said.
Buzeki said, “Quality is a major issue and we will have our certificates displayed for anyone to verify. Farmers must be careful to buy only fertiliser whose quality has been satisfied by Kebs and other relevant authorities.”
Buzeki's company was tasked to provide transport and logistical support. The farmers get supplies through cooperative societies. They deposit cash with ETG and immediately collect the fertiliser from centres approved by the societies.
As part of the deal, ETG will buy maize from farmers at Sh1,900 per 90kg bag.