KTDA calls for bids to supply 85,000 tonnes of fertiliser

The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has invited bids for the supply of 85,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser.

In an advert published in a local daily, the agency announced it was inviting pre-qualified firms for the supply of the NPK 26:5:5 chemical fertiliser to farmers for the year 2021.

The procurement, the announcement stated, will be done in two stages whereby only technically pre-qualified bidders shall be called upon to submit a financial bid in the second stage.

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“Interested eligible firms may obtain documents from the agency procurement offices,” Brown Kanampiu head of procurement and logistics explained.

Kanampiu said due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the tender opening shall be virtual through a video link.

Last year, the agency did not import the fertiliser citing disruptions in the importation chain occasioned by the pandemic.

KTDA assured farmers of adequate yields despite the missed application.

 “The disruption caused by COVID-19 made it impossible for the fertiliser to be delivered in time for application by the farmers,” a statement by the agency added.

Last year, small-scale growers had to depend on private suppliers. 

The agency imports fertiliser on behalf of over 600,000 smallholder tea farmers for application during the short rains between October and November. 

Farmers were refunded the contributions they had made to the Agency for the procurement of the product along with accrued interest. Agrochemical stores in tea-growing regions made a kill last year from the high demand.