- President Ruto has appealed to farmers to redouble the use of fertiliser per acre to increase agricultural production.
- NCPB managing director Joseph Kimote said the fertiliser will be sold through the e-voucher digital system to only registered farmers.
Image: FILE
The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) has confirmed that it is currently selling government’s subsidised fertiliser at Sh2,500 per 50 kg bag in readiness for the short rains planting season.
Initially, one bag of 50kg subsidised fertiliser was selling at Sh3, 500.
On August 2, President William Ruto announced the start of the second phase of the fertiliser subsidy programme where a bag will sell at Sh1,000 less.
“At this price, we expect significantly higher uptake of fertiliser. Since fertiliser is the game- changer of agricultural productivity, this should translate to higher production in the next planting season," the President said.
"I encourage farmers to embrace better and greater use of fertiliser to increase yields in the coming seasons."
The President appealed to farmers to redouble the use of fertiliser per acre to increase agricultural production.
“In the long rain season, most farmers used one bag of fertiliser per acre. Data shows that if you double the fertiliser per acre, you’ll get more yield of between 12 and 25 bags of maize," Ruto said.
In 2017, Kenya produced 39.6 million bags of maize. In 2018, production rose to 44.6 million bags but later slumped to 39.7 million in 2019. In 2021, 40.2 million bags were produced and 43 million last year.
He noted that the government is looking to deliver 100,000 tonnes, or 2 million 50-kilogramme bags of subsidised fertiliser ahead of the short rains.
“Our target is to produce 61 million bags annually between this season and 2027. Long rains usually account for 80 per cent of a season’s production," Ruto said.
"From the long rain season alone show that an estimated yield of 44 million bags is expected, compared to last year’s 32 million bags. As a result of effectively administered strategic interventions, we are definitely on course to meet national demand in full this year."
Data from the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) shows that as at June 10, a total of 3,050,731 bags of both planting and top-dressing fertilisers had been redeemed by farmers from 40 counties with Uasin Gishu leading in the uptake.
NCPB managing director Joseph Kimote said the fertiliser will be sold through the e-voucher digital system to only registered farmers.
“The fertiliser is being distributed in depots and county selling centres that are currently participating in the short-rains subsidised fertiliser programme," he said.
"The Board has continued to partner with county governments to open more selling centres across the country. This is in line with the government's objective of taking services closer to farmers."
Kimote added that all NCPB depots and selling centres are open and serving farmers efficiently, on a first-come-first-served basis.
“All registered farmers who have received e-voucher messages are encouraged to visit NCPB depots and selling centres to redeem their vouchers for the subsidised fertiliser,” he said.