Farmers start getting 20 bags of fertiliser after Munya order

Farmers have started receiving more than 10 bags of subsidised fertiliser from NCPB depots.

This comes more than a week after the government ordered they be allowed to access farm inputs.

Agriculture CS Peter Munya on April 4 directed the National Cereals and Produce Board to allow growers access to up to 20 bags of subsidised fertiliser.

He said capping had been increased to 20 bags from 10 bags of 50kgs.

However, NCPB officials last week said they had not received official communication from the ministry directing the issuance of more than 10 bags of fertiliser to one farmer. 

That meant no more than 10 bags was being given to a single farmer.

On Thursday, Munya issued a second directive that farmers be allowed to get more fertiliser.

On Friday, NCPB chief executive Joseph Kimote told the Star on phone, that they had started issuing the 20 bags as was directed by the CS after receiving a formal request.

“Farmers are now accessing 20 bags-10 for planting and 10 for top dressing subsidy fertiliser from our depots,” Kimote said.

On Wednesday, Munya issued a directive to the NCPB to allow farmers to access up to 20 bags of subsidised fertiliser.

This is an increase from the previously approved 10 bags. 

In a statement,  Munya said this will cushion farmers from high fertiliser prices and help to increase productivity and incomes.

By last week, NCPB was selling 10 bags of fertiliser as it was first directed since they were yet to get an official communication to increase the number of bags.

During an inspection of the Kitale NCPB store on April 4, Munya said only registered farmers will benefit from the Sh5.7 billion fertiliser subsidy programme.

He said verification of registered farmers will be done by county government officials and the national security.

The CS encouraged farmers who are not registered to do so, to access the subsidised fertiliser.  

On April 1, Munya said the government will offer a subsidy for 2.9 million bags of 50 kg fertiliser to farmers.

He said this will help bring down the price of a 50 kg bag of DAP fertiliser from Sh6,000 to Sh2,800.

CAN fertiliser will drop from Sh3,900 to Sh1,950, and NPK will sell at Sh3000 from Sh4,900.

UREA will go for Sh2,700 down from Sh6,500, while MOP will sell at Sh2,500 from Sh3,800.

Munya said the fertiliser subsidy will cushion farmers against high prices and will support the cultivation of 1.13 million acres.

The CS said the fertilisers will be available at NCPB stores countrywide to ensure efficient delivery and control mechanisms are in place.

Munya said due to the prices of fertilisers, the government had expanded fertiliser subsidies to farmers to enhance food security.

The CS attributed the rise in fertiliser prices to producer countries such as China, Russia and Turkey restricting exports to protect their farmers.

“This is compounded by heavy consumption demand from India, Brazil and USA buying up large quantities, hence reducing available global supplies,” Munya said.

“Due to extreme winter conditions, gas prices increased in Europe causing urea and nitrate production factories to close due to competition between heating homes and producing fertilisers, causing a shortage.”

He said the Russia-Ukraine crisis caused further disruptions in the global fertiliser industry, which has also affected domestic prices.

The CS said NCPB will sell the fertilisers at agreed subsidised prices to stabilise the prices.

Last week, Titus Maiyo, NCPB corporate communications manager said before the fertiliser subsidy programme was started, the board has been selling fertiliser commercially by entering into agreements with different companies. 

He told the Star during a phone interview, that the board has been selling fertiliser at a lower cost than what the market was offering.

“The highest price the board was selling for the fertiliser was Sh5,450 for a 50 kg bag of DAP fertiliser while the lowest was NPK which was selling at Sh2,950,” Maiyo said.

Edited by Kiilu Damaris