County raises red flag over acidic fertiliser

By Munene Kamau

Kirinyaga, Kenya: Farmers in Kirinyaga County have been warned against using Double Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilisers for planting due to increasing acidic levels in soil.

County Director of Agriculture Joseph Gachingiri said continued use of the dressing during planting, especially of maize, had greatly affected production.

The official who raised the red flag over the state of soil in the county, however, assured farmers the Government had already stocked enough NPK fertiliser that is ideal for use in the region.

“We have advised our farmers through our field extension officers against the use of DAP fertiliser and instead purchase NPK 23:23:0 fertiliser, which has been recommended for farming in this county,” he said.

Gachingiri has similarly urged farmers to take advantage of the Government’s subsidised fertilisers currently retailing at Sh2,000, down from Sh3,100.

Readily available

He said the inputs are readily available at the Kimbimbi stores in Mwea Sub-County and at National Cereals and Produce Board depots in Sagana.

Early this year, the Government carried out a comprehensive analysis for soils in all the 47 counties in the wake of declining food production in the country despite the continuous use of commercial fertilisers.

The move was meant to assist farmers come up with better crop husbandry mechanisms to help reverse the trend of declining yields through use of ideal farm inputs. Gachingiri advised farmers against overdependence on commercial fertilisers.