President Uhuru gives nod to Sh4.1 fertiliser subsidy

President Uhuru Kenyatta at a past function.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has come to the rescue of farmers following their cry over high cost of production and approved Sh4.1 billion government fertiliser subsidy.

The president had suspended the programme early this year as investigations started on the Sh7 billion programme abused in the last planning season.

Agriculture Principal Secretary Prof Hamadi Boga told the Sunday Standard they expect to procure over 1.2 million bags of fertiliser for this planting season.

“We procured 635,000 50kg bags at Sh2.1billion which is already at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) for distribution,” he said.

He said there was a carry-over of 400,000 bags from the previous programme, which is being distributed to farmers as per the guidelines he issued to NCPB acting Managing Director Albin Sang on March 14. “We advertised for local bidding through open tender. We expected to spend an additional Sh2 billion to purchase more bags. The commodity is manufactured locally with local blend and supplied to NCPB stores,” he said.

According to the circular to Mr Sang, he has issued new reviewed guidelines for issuing fertilier after the process was hijacked by cartels.

Prof Boga has written to Sang with instructions on how the various types of fertilisers will be distributed to ensure only genuine farmers benefit.

As per the guidelines, Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) will go for Sh800, chemically compounded NPK Sh1,700, Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) Sh1,300 and Urea Sh1,300.

“The ministry has made arrangements and made available the initial bags. We have started the process to make available more subsided fertiliser,” said Prof Boga as he listed 16 different types of fertilisers that is available for farmers.

A small scale farmer, the PS says, can access a maximum of 40 bags depending on the acreage of land prepared for planting.

For a farmer to qualify for subsidy, he/she must be vetted by the subsidy fertiliser vetting committees and registered.