By Vitalis Kimutai
Farmers have been scrambling for Government subsidised fertilisers on sale at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
Last week, farmers in the North Rift complained when the supplies were delayed after a train transporting farm inputs allegedly derailed.
NCPB Managing Director Gideon Misoi said that there was high demand for the Government subsidised fertilisers.
"We shall continue to supply fertilisers to farmers to cushion them against high cost of production," Prof Misoi says.
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Under a new system of acquiring the fertiliser, a farmer must present a requisition form approved by the District Agricultural Officer in respective areas to NCPB depots.
"This is to ensure only genuine farmers get the fertiliser and that it is not diverted to the market and re-sold to the unsuspecting customers," says Misoi. Unscrupulous businessmen have tried to short change farmers by acquiring the Government subsidised fertilisers and selling it for exorbitant prices.
Recently, a trader was arrested with five bags of the fertiliser at a shop in Mosoriot trading centre in Nandi County.
The businessman was allegedly selling the fertiliser to unsuspecting farmers for Sh3,000 instead of Sh2,500.
Dirty business
The suspect had allegedly acquired it from NCPB under false pretence that he intended to use it in his farm.
Nandi Central deputy OCPD Paul Munene confirmed the arrest and said Government officials and farmers had been put on alert.
"We are appealing to residents to report businessmen exploiting farmers," Munene said.
However, farmers have urged the Government to relax the conditions for buying the fertilisers.
They appealed to NCPB to take hard cash as opposed to the demand that they deposit money in a local bank before getting the supplies.
"Queuing in the in banking hall to deposit the money in NCPB accounts is tedious," Paul Kerich, a farmer, says. "Hundreds of farmers have been queuing for several days in various NCPB depots after depositing the money in local banks but some are yet to get their supplies due to high demand," Charles Mutai, a farmer says.
Mr Richard Yegon, a businessman in Bomet County says the Government should ensure fertilisers are supplied round the year to cushion farmers from exploitation.
"Supply of the fertilisers should not be pegged to planting of maize alone as there are short season foods and commercial crops," Yegon says.
He says the Government should also consider there are different planting seasons in Rift Valley with the South Rift planting at the end of the year.
