• KTDA chairman Ichoho said the 940,000 bags is in addition to the 720,000 bags the agency received in September.
• He said it will be transported from Mombasa to Nairobi via the SGR.
Image: FILE
Kenya Tea Development Agency will on Tuesday receive 940,000, 50kg bags of fertiliser from Russia.
KTDA chairman David Ichoho said the are an addition to the 720,000 bags of fertiliser the agency received in September.
He spoke to the Star on the phone on Monday.
Ichoho said the fertiliser will land at the Port of Mombasa costing Sh5,617 per bag but farmers will pay a subsidised price of Sh3,500per bag.
In August, KTDA announced that more than 600,000 tea farmers from 54 factories countrywide will benefit from the importation of Sh9 billion fertiliser to be used in the short rains season.
Ichoho said the fertiliser will be transported from Mombasa to Nairobi via the SGR.
KTDA and Kenya Railways signed an agreement whereby tea meant for export will also be transported through the SGR from Nairobi in order to reduce the cost of transportation.
Last week on Wednesday, the National Cereals and Produce Board said farmers had bought more than 300,000 bags of subsidised fertiliser for the short rains planting season.
NCPB had said it had distributed 307,200 50kg bags of subsidised fertiliser at a retail price of Sh3,500. It aims to distribute 1.4 million bags of DAP planting fertiliser.
NCPB managing director Joseph Kimote said farmers who had registered with their ward agricultural officers were receiving fertiliser through their depots countywide.
He told the Star plans were underway to avail CAN/Urea top-dressing fertilisers and lime for farmers.
However, some farmers in the Central region have been complaining of delays in getting the fertiliser and said long queues keep them away.
Kimote said the board , in collaboration with the Council of Governors, will open up more distribution channels to reach more farmers.
“In order to infuse inclusivity into the supply and distribution of subsidised fertiliser, the board has invited bids for the supply of both soil and crop-specific fertiliser blends for planting and top dressing," he said.
Kitmote said the crop-specific fertiliser blends will benefit registered tea and coffee farmers who are not covered under the Kenya Tea Development Agency and the New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union distribution deals.
(Edited by V.Graham)