- Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi faces senators and lawmakers question the whereabouts of the cheap fertiliser promised by the Kenya Kwanza regime.
- Legislators are concerned the subsidised fertiliser has yet to reach many regions a farmers are preparing to plant with the onset of the rains.
Image: HANDOUT
Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi faces angry senators who ask where is all that subsidised fertiliser promised by the Kenya Kwanza regime.
The legislators said on Thursday the commodity is yet to reach many regions as farmers are preparing to plant with the onset of the rains.
Some senators cited logistical nightmares in distribution of the commodity in their areas with farmers forced to spend thousands to ferry the commodity, cancelling the benefit of the subsidy.
The government has imported millions of bags of subsidised fertiliser to reduce the cost of production and make the country food secure.
A 50kg bag of fertiliser goes for Sh3,500, down from about Sh6,000.
Speaking in the debating chambers, many senators from both sides of the political divide said fertiliser has not reached their counties and questioned the criteria used by the state in distributing it.
“The CS (through the Agriculture committee) should state the number of farmers in the county who have benefited from the national fertiliser subsidy since the programme began,” Laikipia Senator John Kinyua (UDA) said.
The lawmaker demanded the CS elaborates on how the programme has been implemented and states the areas covered.
“State measures in place to ensure that smallholder farmers in remote areas have access to the fertiliser, Kinyua said.
He wants CS Linturi to disclose the points of fertiliser distribution, outlining measures, if any, to address the challenges of transportation to remote areas.
Linturi, who will appear before the Senate’s Agriculture Committee, i8s expected to explain plans to monitor the impact of the fertiliser distribution programme onoverall agricultural productivity and food security.
Nyamira Senator Okongó Omogeni (ODM) said the fertiliser has not reached his county despite Nyamira being classified as a beneficiary.
“The fertiliser has never been delivered to Nyamira. The sitting Cabinet Secretary has totally forgotten Nyamira county,” he said.
“When you promise peasant farmers fertiliser, they know no other language. They trust what their leaders say. When they do not get the fertiliser, they ask us questions and we do not have answers,” he said.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale (UDA), whos county is a food basket area, said there is a logistical nightmare in the distribution of cheap fertiliser.
“The farmer goes from Ingolomosio to Kakamega town, queues there but goes back home because the queue was too long,” he said.
“When he repeats that attempt, the loss of money cancels out the savings on fertiliser."
At one time, the majority whip disclosed that he paid from his own pocket for two trucks to collect the fertiliser and take it closer to farmers for collection.
“We would like this committee to table in this House a record of how much fertiliser was bought by the government. How much went where so we can see whether the principle of equity was exercised,” he said.
Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga (ODM) said the government’s assumption that fertiliser was the only factor in food production was misleading.
“They have made fertiliser the only factor in production they want to subsidise. If it is not available, then that little subsidy they are giving to production in agriculture is failing,” he said.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei (UDA) also raised concerns about the long-distances farmers are forced to travel to collect the fertiliser.
“Therefore, the issue that we wanted is warehouse receipting." he said.
"You do not expect somebody to drive to Mosoriot all the way from Gambogi, Nyang’ori, Serem or even Musasa near Vihiga to receive only two bags of fertiliser,” he said.
(Edited by V. Graham)