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400,000 bags of subsidised fertiliser distributed in North Rift – NCPB

Hundreds of farmers are still piling up at all NCPB depots to buy fertiliser at a subsidised price Sh3,500 per 50kg bag

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by BY MATHEWS NDANYI

Rift-valley28 February 2023 - 09:53
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In Summary


•NCPB regional manager Gilbert Rotich said the distribution is still on.

• Rotich said they have adequate stock in all depots so that farmers can access the subsidised fertiliser nearer to their homes.

Workers offload subsidised fertiliser for distribution to farmers in Nandi county

More than 400,000 bags of subsidised fertiliser have so far been distributed to farmers in the North Rift, the National Cereals and Produce Board has said.

Hundreds of farmers are still piling up at all NCPB depots to buy fertiliser at a subsidised price Sh3,500 per 50kg bag ahead of the planting season. The current market price for a 50kg bag of fertiliser is Sh6,000.

NCPB regional manager Gilbert Rotich said the distribution is still on.

“The process has been going on smoothly and we have no limit on the number of bags a farmer can get. They are able to purchase what they want,” he said.

Rotich said they also have adequate stock in all depots so that farmers can access the subsidised fertiliser nearer to their homes.

The region has high maize producing counties including Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Nandi, Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet.

Last month the government delivered more fertiliser at all NCPB depots in the region as farmers prepare their farms in anticipation the rains will fall soon.

The additional fertiliser was delivered to Eldoret from Mombasa using the Kenya Railways wagons and transported to far-flung depots using lorries.

Rotich said farmers should not panic over supplies because the government will ensure they access the quantities they require.

More than seven million bags of fertiliser for planting are expected to be delivered to all parts of the country.

Counties in the region have also teamed up with the NCPB to ensure smooth distribution of the fertiliser.

Uasin Gishu county has registered more than 100,000 farmers for the fertiliser subsidy programme

Agriculture executive Edward Sawe said farmers in the region should  register themselves to access fertiliser from NCPB stores.

He said the county will also use its stores to ensure farmers get fertiliser in areas where the NCPB has no stores.

Nandi county is also implementing measures to improve the distribution of subsidised fertiliser to benefit maize farmers.

The county responded quickly to the request of Aldai’s maize farmers to take the subsidised fertiliser closer to farmers in Nandi county.

More than 3,000 bags were delivered to Aldai.

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