• Some protesting farmers said NCPB officials were selling subsidised fertiliser selectively at night, causing most of them to miss out.
• Farmers used their own padlocks to lock the stores at the depot, demanding an explanation of why fertiliser was sold selectively.
Image: File
The National Cereals and Produce Board is short of subsidised fertiliser, especially for top dressing, causing an outcry from Rift Valley farmers.
Farmers stormed the NCPB depot at Turbo on Monday, saying officials were selling subsidised fertiliser selectively at night, causing most of them to miss out.
The farmers put their own padlocks on the stores at the depot, demanding to know why the commodity was being sold selectively.
Director of Kenya Farmers Association Kipkorir Menjo and NCPB regional manager for North Rift Gilbert Rotich met farmers at Turbo to discus how best to distribute the limited supplies.
“Most farmers are worried the shortages will lower production because many of them cannot afford the prices in the open market," Menjo said.
The top dressing fertilisers, especially CAN and urea, are selling at an average of Sh6,000 per 50kg bag in the open market. The prices at NCPB are half because of government subsidies.
“Most farmers are rushing to get the fertiliser at the NCPB depots because it’s cheaper and demand has outstripped supply, "Menjo said.
NCPB spokesman Titus Maiyo said the board was supplying the fertiliser to its depots as soon as it is received from suppliers.
“The board ensures balancing in all its supplies so farmers in all areas can benefit," Maiyo said. He said due to the current situation, supplies may not be adequate due to the high demand.
More than 30,000 farmers have so far benefitted from subsidised fertiliser in counties in the North Rift region.
Most of the farmers access the fertiliser from the National Cereals and Produce Board depots in Eldoret, Kitale, Kapenguria, Nandi and other areas.
Menjo said their records indicate many of those benefitting from the subsidised fertiliser are small-scale farmers who cannot afford high price.
“At least the subsidised fertiliser has eased the burden of high costs, especially for small-scale farmers," Menjo said.
A representative of small-scale farmers David Kiberenge said considering global market trends in which prices of major commodities are fluctuating, the government should always budget for subsidies.
“The small-scale farmers are the majority and they greatly contribute to food security. The government should always budget to support them in times of hardships that raise costs of farm inputs," Kiberenge said.
He said the government should also budget enough cash to help store adequate supplies of fertiliser.
Moiben MP Silas Tiren, who is also chairman of the Parliamentary committee on Agriculture, said the board should work with suppliers to make fertiliser more available at depots.
Companies supplying the fertiliser to NCPB include OCP Kenya, Fanisi, Maisha Minerals, Minjingu Mines and Baraka Limited.
The government is selling the subsidised fertiliser to through NCPB, which has limited farmers to five bags.
(Edited by V.Graham)