Farmers upbeat as fertiliser hits stores

National Cereals and Produce Board store in Nyeri. [File, Standard] Farmers in Trans Nzoia County have expressed confidence in the subsidised fertiliser distribution process after the government restocked the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) stores ahead of March planting season. Unlike previous years where farmers faced long queues, delays, and the infiltration of counterfeit fertilisers, this season's process has been praised as smooth and well-organised. Hellen Wamalwa, a small-scale farmer from Sirende in Kiminini Constituency, said she was happy that she could acquire fertiliser way ahead of the planting season. "Last year was a struggle because the input was delivered to the stores when the planting season had already started," Wamalwa said. She urged the government to sustain timely distribution, saying it had helped eliminate middlemen who exploit farmers. "For the first time, I did not have to deal with brokers who hike prices. The fertiliser is affordable and easily accessible," she added. Jane Talam, a farmer from Kwanza Constituency, noted that early access to fertiliser would allow farmers to prepare early for the planting season. "Last season, we struggled with long queues and delays. Many of us planted late, which affected our yields. This year, things are different. The process is smooth," Talam told The Standard. David Wafula, a large-scale maize farmer who cultivates 100 acres in Cherang'any, said this was the first time fertiliser had been supplied before the new year. According to Kitale NCPB depot Manager Milca Lunani, the depot had already served over 50,000 farmers, up from the 20,000 last year. "We are seeing a significant rise in the number of farmers collecting different varieties of fertiliser, including planting and top-dressing fertiliser," Lunani said. Lunani added that the process had been seamless, with steady distribution since July last year for short-rain planting. "The flow has been uninterrupted. Farmers have been turning up in large numbers, which is a testament to their confidence in the system," Lunani said. To further improve accessibility, Lunani revealed that the county government, through the Last Mile Programme, would begin distributing fertilizer to sub-county stores next week. Production costs "This will cut production costs for farmers by reducing transport expenses," she noted. The Trans Nzoia County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Agriculture, Phanice Khatundi, said maize production in the county had exceeded six million bags in the last season. "Our farmers have worked hard, and with the availability of quality fertiliser, we expect even better yields this year," Khatundi stated. The Ministry of Agriculture reported that national maize production reached 75 million bags last season, a figure attributed to the fertiliser subsidy programme and favourable weather conditions. Under the subsidy programme, 6.45 million farmers have been registered. Despite the optimism, farmers are calling for sustained monitoring to prevent the resurgence of counterfeit fertilisers. "The government has done well this time, but we need assurance that this will not be a one-time success," Wafula said. Farmers also expressed concerns about fluctuating maize prices, calling on the government to ensure stable market conditions. "It's good that we have fertiliser, but we also need fair maize prices. Otherwise, we will struggle to make profits despite high yields," said Talam.

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