A cargo ship carrying 47,300 metric tonnes of NPK fertilizer for smallholder tea farmers has docked at the Mombasa Port with growers now set to receive the input ahead of the short rains.
This is the first of two batches of a total of nearly 97,000 metric tonnes procured by the agency on behalf of farmers, with the second ship set to follow shortly.
The NPK 26:5:5 chemically compounded fertilizer will be bagged at the port and distributed to farmers through their respective factories, ensuring efficient and timely delivery for farm application.
“The modalities for offloading, bagging, and transporting the fertilizer upcountry are already in place for seamless delivery to farmers,” KTDA CEO Wilson Muthaura said.
“Our tea extension officers are also at hand to engage farmers on the application of the fertilizer to achieve the best results in their farms.”
The amount procured is an increase from the 88,000 metric tonnes procured last year.
This rise reflects the expansion of smallholder tea acreage and a growing preference among organizations and individuals outside the KTDA network to place their orders through the Agency.
The final cost of the fertilizer which will be bagged in 50kg and 25kg bags will be determined by several factors, including the cost of natural gas (a key component in manufacturing NPK fertilizer), exchange rates, shipment costs, marine, and overland insurance costs, as well as clearing and transportation costs to the respective tea factories.
Applying fertilizer at the start of the short rains is crucial for maintaining the high quality and quantity of green leaves required for premium tea production.
KTDA procures fertilizer in bulk through competitive international bidding, benefiting more than 680,000 small-scale tea farmers who are shareholders of its managed factories.
This arrangement allows the farmers to access high-quality fertilizer at competitive prices reliably.
The KTDA fertilizer credit scheme also enables farmers to pay for the fertilizer in installments, easing the financial burden of purchasing this vital input for tea farming.
