Farmers will spend more money to buy fertiliser as prices continue to soar.
A 50kg bag is retailing between Sh6,000 and Sh7,000.
The Ministry of Agriculture has Sh1.2 billion to support farmers in purchasing farm inputs for the long rains planting season and for the e-voucher system.
Agriculture PS Hamadi Boga said this may not be enough to support farmers and cushion them against the high cost of inputs including fertiliser.
He spoke during a phone interview with the Star on Thursday.
Boga said in the past, the ministry was allocated between Sh5-Sh8 billion for the fertiliser subsidy programme and sometimes this was not adequate.
“In the previous season, about 200,000 farmers benefitted from the government’s e-voucher system, the number is likely to increase this planting season due to the high global fertiliser prices,” he said.
The PS said they are working on a proposal to request more funding from the National Treasury to support farmers.
Joseph Kimote, National Cereals and Produce managing director has said in their stores, they have 20,800 bags-50kg of assorted fertiliser both planting and topdressing.
He said the current fertiliser prices range between Sh2,250 and Sh3,500.
Kimote said they bought the stock before the global prices hiked.
“The board is participating in the e-voucher subsidy programme where a farmer pays 60 per cent of the cost of fertiliser while the government pays 40 per cent of the total cost of the preferred farm input,” he said.
“The programme targets small scale farmers, the board is working with partners to restock different fertilisers in readiness for this year's planting season.”
Last month, Agriculture CS Peter Munya said he will be presenting a Cabinet memo to discuss the current cost of fertiliser and offer interventions, to cushion farmers against the high cost.
Fertiliser Association of Kenya chairman Eustace Muriuki said the high cost of fertiliser in the country is attributed to rising costs of gas and export restrictions in Russia, which is the highest fertiliser producer in the world.
He said a 50kg bag of DAP at the Port of Mombasa is going for Sh5,500, Sh3,700 for a 50kg bag of CAN and Urea at Sh6,000.
“Prices are high due to the tension between Russia, EU and USA. If they impose some restrictions, there will be no exports from Russia and prices will continue rising,” he said.
He said currently, Russia and China have banned exports of fertiliser in their countries to satisfy their market before exporting.
“When the supply is low, prices go up. Gas is the raw material used for supplying the nitrogen nutrient and Russia supplies gas to Europe. It will take time before prices drop,” Muriuki said.
Timothy Njagi, a senior researcher from Tegemeo Institute said maize prices are likely to go up between June and July due to the high cost of fertiliser.
“The current prices will lead to the high cost of production for farmers especially in the Rift valley region that relies on long rains for maize planting,” Njagi said.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
