• Munya revealed that the move by the government would put an end to the suffering that farmers have endured in the hands of cartels.
• The CS said the Sh5.7 billion so far utilized by the government for fertiliser subsidy is a milestone in the sector.
Image: FILE
The government has capped purchase of subsidized fertilizer at 20 bags per farmer to ensure all farmers benefit from the subsidy.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya said the government had listened to farmer's concerns and agreed to revise the cap from five bags for each registered farmer.
The limit applies to both large and small-scale farmers.
"Farmers are now allowed to purchase up to 20 bags of fertiliser, up from the initial 5 bags both for planting and top dressing," Munya said amid applause from farmers.
Munya spoke on Monday at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) premises in Kitale town when he launched the sale of the subsidized fertiliser.
On Saturday, the CS announced a Sh5.7 billion fertiliser subsidy that cut the prices of various fertiliser variants by at least half.
A 50kg bag of DAP whose initial price was Sh6,000 will now go for Sh2,800.
Urea dropped from Sh6,500 to Sh2,700, CAN from Sh3,900 to Sh1,950 and NPK went from Sh4,900 to Sh3,000.
The cost of MOP was cut from Sh3,800 to Sh2,500 while Sulphate Ammonia will now be sold at Sh2,500 from Sh3,800.
Munya revealed that the move by the government would put an end to the suffering that farmers have endured in the hands of cartels.
He hit out at some unnamed politicians accusing them of using high costs of fertiliser for political expediency.
He said the government played no role in the high cost of the commodity.
"There are those who have been taking advantage of the fertiliser issue to gain political mileage. They are the ones who have been colluding with profiteers to fleece the farmer, let them now look for something else to do," Munya said.
He cited Covid-19 and export restrictions by fertiliser-producing countries such as Russia, China and Turkey as the reason behind the high fertiliser prices.
The CS said the Sh5.7 billion so far utilized by the government for fertiliser subsidy is a milestone in the sector.
He urged farmers to go back to their farms as the planting season gets underway and stop listening to cheap politics.
Munya urged the farmers to take advantage of the government’s gesture to purchase their favorite fertilizer for immediate planting.
The CS was flanked by area leaders including former forestry Minister Noah Wekesa and former Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya.
Also present were Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Samson Ojwang, Deputy Governor Stanley Kenei, NCPB Managing Director Joseph Kimote and his Kenya Seed counterpart Fred Oloibe.
Nairobi stock exchange chairman Kiprono Kittony also attended the function.
"It is a big win for the small scale farmers in Trans Nzoia following the government’s decision. We thank you for your tireless efforts which have transformed the agricultural sector," Natembeya said.
Wekesa said Azimio la Umoja will reap big from the government’s move.