President William Ruto’s government on Wednesday rolled out a countrywide distribution of subsidised fertiliser, targeting to give farmers 12 million bags.
Speaking when he launched the exercise in Nakuru, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi said the government plans to double the bags issued in 2023.
Last year, the government distributed 6 million bags across the county as it stepped up efforts to boost food security and stabilise prices.
The CS who spoke at the Nakuru National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot, flagged off 2,300 bags of the commodities for Nakuru County farmers.
Linturi revealed that last year the country produced 80 million bags of maize, up from 60 million bags after farmers were given subsidised fertiliser.
“We are proud that in 2023, we managed to produce 80 million bags of maize due to the use of subsidized fertiliser,” Linturi said.
The CS was in the company of the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Crop Development, Paul Rono.
Rono on his part appealed to farmers to fully utilise the fertiliser to ensure they improve their yields.
“The nationwide distribution of subsidised fertiliser will be fast-tracked as we aim to avail the commodities to farmers ahead of the long rain season,” the PS said.
During the event, Linturi also unveiled five solar mobile grain dryers for farmers.
The mobile grain dryers will be available to farmers at Elburgon, Olenguruone, Subukia, Naivasha and Nakuru NCPB Depots.
The CS added that the government targets to eradicate post-harvest losses of grain harvests through the use of mobile grain dryers for sufficient drying before storage.
