- Farmers can afford to grow more crops, resulting in cultivation of 200,000 more acres this season
- The president said they are collaborating with county governments to establish aggregation centres for every county
Image: FILE
Image: TONY WAFULA
The government has distributed over 1.3 million bags of subsidised fertiliser in 41 counties.
This number is expected to rise to 43 by end of October.
President William Ruto said fertiliser alone contributes to 30 per cent crop productivity.
“Since assuming office, we have taken decisive steps to reduce the price of fertiliser, through the fertiliser subsidy programme, from Sh6,500 per 50kg-bag to Sh3,500 and then further to Sh2,500,” he said.
The President spoke during the opening of this year's Nairobi International Trade Fair at the Jamhuri grounds.
“As a consequence, four million 50kg-bags of soil and crop-specific fertiliser have been distributed. Two million 50kg-bags are expected to be distributed for the short rains and over six million bags will be distributed during the 2024 season,” Ruto said.
He said farmers can afford to grow more crops, resulting in cultivation of 200,000 more acres this season.
This has also resulted in a projected harvest of 44 million 90kg-bags in the long rains, up from a long-term average of 31.3 million bags.
Ruto said he is intentional with actualising vision for agricultural transformation through increased productivity.
“We have determined to prosecute a direct line of attack against the high cost of living, poverty and unemployment. We have embarked on the focused execution of the plan to enhance productivity in several agricultural value chains to promote self-sufficiency and export competitiveness," he said.
"We expect the fruits of these interventions to begin accruing shortly in the maize harvest season, through sustainable affordability of staple and other food commodities.”
Ruto said a few sectors of the economy have endured as much shock and stress as agriculture due to climate change.
He said the region has emerged from a devastating spell of drought which left behind a trail of destruction.
The president said they are collaborating with county governments to establish aggregation centres for every county.
“These will be equipped with common-user facilities for storage and processing, enabling farmers to reduce post-harvest losses and also earn more from their produce,”Ruto said.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Kello Harsama said as of this week, 1.37 million bags of fertiliser have been distributed to more than 270,000 farmers.
“The fertiliser is intended for all crops and is selling at Sh2,500 per 50kg bag. Besides accessing the fertiliser from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), farmers can also get the fertiliser from last mile stores in every county,” said Harasama.
“We have opened last mile stores within the counties. There are at least three stores per county to make it easy for farmers to access the fertiliser."