• A stock of 736, 141 bags of fertiliser is yet to be redeemed.
• FSP has led to a reduction in the price of the input from Sh7,000 to Sh3,500 per bag.
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Farmers across the country have purchased more than three million bags of fertiliser under the subsidy programme.
While announcing the subsidy fertiliser programme early this year, President William Ruto said the move is aimed at helping farmers increase production to bring down the cost of food and cushion Kenyans against the high cost of living.
“To sort out the high cost of living, we are looking at increasing production by working with farmers to achieve this. We are supporting farmers with fertiliser and seeds and an additional 200,000 acres has been put into production,” he said.
Data from the Kenya National Trading Corporation shows that Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia and Nakuru counties top list in fertiliser uptake.
Since the inception of the subsidy fertliiser, Uasin Gishu county has had the highest fertiliser redemption, with farmers receiving 670,645 bags of planting fertiliser.
Trans Nzoia is second at more than 500,000 bags and Nakuru at 287,900 bags followed by Bungoma at 203,990 and Nandi at 180,709 bags.
KNTC managing director Pamela Mutua said since its inception, FSP has led to a reduction in the price of the input from Sh7,000 to Sh3,500 per bag.
She said the fertiliser is available in outlets allowed to stock it including those managed by KNTC, the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and stores owned by counties.
Data collected from KNTC showed that at close of business on June 10, 2023, a total of 3,050,731 bags of both planting and top dressing fertilisers had been redeemed by farmers from 40 counties. The bulk of this consignment was planting fertiliser.
“More than 1.7 million bags of planting fertiliser have been purchased by farmers from the 40 counties. With the planting season in most counties drawing to a close, the focus has now shifted to the top dressing fertiliser, whose distribution is currently ongoing,” Mutua said.
Some 1,253,440 bags of top dressing fertiliser has been distributed.
Mutua said in the ongoing phase of distribution of top dressing fertiliser, Uasin Gishu is still leading, having redeemed 281,990 bags. Farmers from Trans Nzoia county have redeemed 276,855 bags.
Other counties are Bungoma (116,945), Nandi (73,082), Nakuru (72,335) and Kakamega (63,166).
In the coffee sector, farmers have also been lining up in depots to redeem their e-vouchers after the arrival of the top dressing fertiliser. Already, 52,526 bags of fertiliser have been purchased by farmers.
Mutua said farmers are also redeeming potato, sugarcane and vegetable fertilisers in various outlets across the country.
“We urge farmers to continue buying subsidised fertiliser in all the KNTC, NCPB and selected county government outlets across the country. We still have 736,141 bags in stock,” she said.
Farmers have received vouchers in Baringo, Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Embu, Homa Bay, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kericho, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Kisii, Kisumu, Kitui, Laikipia, Machakos, Makueni, Meru, Migori, Murang'a and Nakuru counties.
Others are in Nandi, Narok, Nyamira, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Tharaka Nithi, Siaya, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga, West Pokot, Mombasa, Tana River, Kilifi, Lamu, Kwale and Taita Taveta.