NAIROBI: The Government will import fertiliser worth Sh4.2 billion for next year’s planting season. Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei said the State is buying 102,550 tonnes to be sold to farmers at subsidised rates early next year.
Under the new farm inputs subsidy arrangement, farmers will enjoy a 10 per cent price reduction on the 20.5 million bags of fertiliser they will use during the long rains season starting March next year. Koskei said the price reduction is informed by the impact the subsided fertiliser has had on food production in the country since it was initiated.
“The Government will subside planting fertilisers -DAP and NPOK - by a further Sh200 to sell at Sh1,800 from the current Sh2,000. The top dressing fertilisers – CAN and Urea - will continue to sell at Sh1,500 while Sulphate of Ammonia will sell at Sh1,300,” said Mr Koskei.
“Our aim is to ensure the farmers’ margins have been improved in order to increase production and productivity during the forthcoming long rains season.”
During the press conference in his office Thursday to announce new adjusted maize prices, Koskei said the Government had ordered 102,550 tonnes from the international markets for the long rains season and the commodity is expected to be received in the country as from early next year.
He said the consignment expected at Mombasa port in January includes 12,500 tonnes of DAP, 33,000 tonnes of CAN, 44, 530 tonnes of NPK and 12,500 tonnes of urea. In the 2013/14 financial year, Koskei explained 152,000 tonnes of subsided assorted fertilisers valued at Sh3.9 billion were made available to the farmers.
This year, he said less fertiliser had been ordered and the balance in the market will catered for by private sector players. He explained that the ordered fertiliser is based on the prescriptions outlined in the soil health analysis report launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta early this year. “We are very keen to ensure the fertiliser farmers are using will contribute to reducing acidity of soil as was indicated in the report,” he added.
The Cabinet secretary said the country will register 40.3 million bags at the end of the current production period ending February next year, against a consumption of 40.2 million bags.
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