New fertiliser to boost yields

By Luke Anami

Cereal farmers are expected to benefit from a new organic fertiliser.

The fertiliser has been launched in Kenya to fight the increasing soil acidity in areas that have used phosphates for a long time.

The farm input, known as Minjingu Organic Hyper phosphate, reduces acidity in soils and increases yields of cereals such as maize by 30 per cent. It is mined at Minjingu near Lake Manyara and Arusha in Tanzania.

According to the marketing manager of the input, Mr Stephen Mitei, the 50kg packet is retailing at Sh2,100, and is mainly used in the Rift Valley and parts of Western and Nyanza provinces, which are most hit by acidity in soils.

The fertiliser is being exhibited at the on-going two-day National Fertiliser Conference at Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (Kari) headquarters in Nairobi.

Agriculture Minister Sally Kosgei opened the conference and expressed hope the private sector would consider setting up a fertiliser processing plant in the country to address the high cost of inputs, which have impacted negatively on the growth of the agriculture sector.

Support expansion

Meanwhile, the General Manager of Minjingu Mines & Fertiliser Limited, Anup Modha, has urged Eastern African countries to support the expansion of the Tanzanian company to make the commodity cheaper in the region and boost food security.

Kari and Farm Input Promotions Africa Ltd have tested and recommended the fertiliser, said Chief Executive of Kondola Enterprises, Daljit Kondola. Kondola is the sole agent of Minjingu fertiliser in Kenya.

The fertiliser is ideal for basal application on almost all tropical crops with rate of application varying from 100-300kg per acre. It is utilised as a direct application fertiliser due to its high solubility. It can be used to grow maize, oat, sunflower and horticulture crops.

Rift Valley Provincial Agribusiness Development Officer Jacob Mugambi said parts of the region have highly acidic soils, and the only way to fight it out now is to use the fertiliser, which is marketed in granular and powder form.

Mr Mugambi said frequent use of common fertilisers by farmers in Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, parts of Nakuru and Kericho has led to increased acidity in the soils, leading to reduced production of cereals.