Rift farmers pile pressure over increased seed prices

Increased seed prices and other farm inputs have set farmers in Rift Valley on edge. Despite preparing their farms for planting, the farmers are concerned after the Kenya Seed Company raised seed prices by more than 30 per cent.

This is as Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe is expected to make his first visit to the region next week during the Agricultural Society of Kenya show in Eldoret. Through their representatives Michael Bowen and Kipkorir Menjo, the farmers said high costs of farm inputs will likely affect production this year.

“We expect the CS to come out clear on this matter of seed prices which will affect majority of farmers,” Bowen said.

Last year, a 2kg packet of seed cost Sh420. Farmers will now purchase the same at Sh600.

A 10kg bag which cost Sh2,100 will now cost Sh3,000, while a 25kg bag (initially going for Sh5,250) will now retail at Sh7,500. Menjo said the gains made through distribution of subsidised fertiliser will be wiped out if the cost of other farm inputs are hiked.

“The prices of seeds have been increased like never before and this will particularly affect small-scale farmers who also contribute to production,” he said.

Menjo urged Kagwe to look into ways of supporting KSC to reduce prices of seeds. PS for Agriculture Paul Rono did not respond to calls and text messages on the issue. KSC CEO Sammy Chepsiror yesterday said they received complaints from farmers on the prices.

“The matter is also with the Ministry of Agriculture but for now we cannot say much,” he told the Star on phone. The hike had been necessitated by factors which were “unavoidable”, he said, adding that increasing demand for seeds had forced the company to pay more for seed production.

“We had to increase what we pay to our seed producers in order to attract them to continue producing more,” Chepsiror said.

The company produces about 10 per cent of its seed while the rest is produced by hired farmers. This caused a change in the selling prices of seed, thus affecting farmers.

Chepsiror said seed production was a costly science which also involved importation of some chemicals and other inputs whose cost had increased. The cost of hiring land for seed production had also gone up, from about Sh4,000 per acre to Sh20,000.

“Land owners have increased the cost of hiring out their land for seed production yet we need the land to sustain our production.”