Kakamega farmers to get subsidised fertiliser

KAKAMEGA: Farmers are set to get subsidised fertiliser in a move aimed at curbing food shortages in the region.

Farmers in the county have been using DAP (Double Ammonium Phosphate), which experts say is highly acidic, but the county administration now wants to shift to the  Mavuno brand.

A 50kg bag of the fertiliser currently retails Sh3000, but farmers will be able to get at Sh1,800.

County Executive for Agriculture Kulati Wangi encouraged farmers to use the new brand,  which he said had been recommended by experts, to boost productivity.

"Experts sampled the soil in Kakamega and established that it is acidic and this is due to years of application of DAP. The acidity can, however, be neutralised by Mavuno," he said during the distribution of the fertiliser at Bukura on Wednesday.

He added: "You should embrace research-driven agriculture because even the Good Book says people perish because of lack of knowledge."

Governor Wycliffe Oparanya said only smallholder farmers will be supplied with the fertiliser.

"Research has established that  one acre can produce 18 bags of maize, but most farmers harvested an average of eight bags per acre in the last planting season," Mr Oparanya said.

He said although 192,500 acres of land were put under maize in the previous planting season, the yields were barely enough to feed the county's population.

"You will be required to pay for the fertiliser through the county's account before the input is delivered to your doorstep. No fertiliser will be purchased from the truck delivering it," Oparanya said.

He said extension officers will be deployed across the county to train farmers on how to use the fertiliser.