Farmers accuse State of neglect

By KIPCHUMBA KEMEI

They say State was showing preferential treatment to other counties in fertiliser issuance

Farmers in Narok County have accused the Ministry of Agriculture of neglecting them in the issuance of subsidised fertilisers.

They said yesterday they were surprised that some regions in the country had already received the inputs and demanded to know what criteria the ministry was using in the distribution.

“It is hurting to see some regions receiving preferential treatment yet Narok, being the biggest producer of wheat, is being ignored. Is politics at play,” posed John Lolchoki, Narok Large-Scale Wheat Farmers Association spokesman.

ARTIFICIAL SHORTAGE

Mr Lolchoki alleged there were cartels that are working with some traders to create artificial shortage of important farm inputs during planting seasons and petitioned the Jubilee Government to intervene.

“It is hurting that whenever farmers prepare their land for the planting season important inputs like fertilisers and seeds are not available. The incoming Government should ensure the habit stops for the sake of the country’s food security,” he said.

The group said unscrupulous traders were taking advantage of the shortage of wheat seeds to dress low quality ones and then sell them to unsuspecting and desperate farmers at exorbitant prices.

The practice, they said, was responsible for low and poor yields and even total crop failure and appealed to President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta to appoint a competent person to be Agriculture Secretary.