More than one million farmers sign up for input and fertiliser

Rift Valley region, which has 14 counties, is among the country's main food baskets. The region is known for maize production, the country's staple food.

Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Abdi Hassan said the listing programme, dubbed Household Farmers Registration, has been smooth even though there have been reports of slow return of registration forms by some farmers.

"The region was approaching the one million mark by the close of business on Wednesday. We have a target of registering two million farmers in the 14 counties at the end of the process," said Hassan.

He said the chiefs are recording a last-minute rush by farmers across the counties to get registered.

Hassan called on farmers to turn up in their numbers noting that the registration will determine the number of subsidized farm inputs that will be availed to their respective areas in the next few months.

"We are closing into the first planting season of the year. Distribution of farm inputs especially fertilizer will be based on demand calculated from what each registered farmer needs," he said.

Nakuru County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo said that 70 per cent of the farmers in the county have already been registered by Wednesday last week.

Joseph Njoroge. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Ms Jane Wanjiku, a farmer from Njoro expressed confidence with the registration exercise saying the plan will make farming a worthwhile venture.

"Having every farmer supplied with inputs directly will lock out the cartels. It is our expectation that persons tasked with the registration were not compromised" said Wanjiku.

Wanjiku said fertilizer was the main challenge for them in the last two years after prices went up.

"For the first time in my 20 years of farming, I bought a 50-kg bag of fertilizer at Sh6,000. We hope the government will ensure there is enough for all at the promised price of Sh3,500," said Wanjiku.

Joseph Njoroge, another farmer said the previous administration availed fertilizer after the planting season was over.

Dancun Kiprono from Rongai called on the government to consider withdrawing new taxes introduced on farming chemicals which also contribute to high costs of production.

"If a farmer uses the chemicals as expected, the end result is the high cost of food. The taxes should be reviewed," said Kiprono.