- MPs have launched a probe into the distribution of subsidised fertiliser following claims of unavailability in this planting season.
- The president said the government is working hard to increase productivity in the Agricultural sector across the country.
Image: PCS
President William Ruto has assured Kenyans that the government will ship more fertilisers for planting by April 10 amid a biting shortage.
The President attributed the shortage of fertilisers in the country to delayed shipment due to the logistical challenges affecting the Red Sea corridor.
Speaking when he opened the Kakamega Investment Conference on Wednesday, President Ruto appealed to farmers to be patient as the government tries to sort out the mess.
This is as he assured farmers that the fertiliser subsidy programme is on course as part of the Kenya Kwanza intervention to enhance productivity.
“We have had challenges of intermittent supply. The fertiliser we were expecting early this month will be arriving by the 10th of April as it was delayed because of the challenges we have at the Red Sea,’’ President Ruto said.
“We have had alternative sources of fertiliser and I want to assure farmers that the Government of Kenya and the Ministry of Agriculture is working around the clock to make sure that every farmer gets the requisite fertiliser before the season is over.’’
The president said the government is working hard to increase productivity in the Agricultural sector across the country in areas that his administration considers a priority.
The government through Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi had last month announced that Kenya would import 12 million bags of fertiliser for the current planning season.
On Wednesday Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Rono said next week, the government will be distributing two million bags of subsidized fertilizer to North Rift and Central regions.
“Each of the regions will get one million bags of fertiliser to be used for all crops. Farmers can access the fertilizer through the National Cereals and Produce Bard (NCPB) stores across the regions.
MPs have launched a probe into the distribution of subsidised fertiliser following claims of unavailability in this planting season.
Soy MP David Kiplagat, while seeking a statement from the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, said the distribution of subsidised fertiliser has been rocked with various challenges.
“The Government must move with speed to streamline the distribution of subsided fertilisers to farmers to forestall crop failure that will result from late planting,” Kiplagat said.
The Government’s subsidized fertiliser programme was aimed at boosting farm productivity and stabilising food prices. This came at a time when prices for food commodities and inputs such as fertiliser had skyrocketed.
Consequently, the Government undertook nationwide registration of farmers to deliver subsidized fertilizers by use of an e-voucher system to ensure traceability and full accountability of the farm input.