No more scramble for fertiliser at NCPB

By SILAH KOSKEI

Uasin Gishu, Kenya: Uasin Gishu County government has started de-centralising the sale of fertiliser to ease congestion at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in the area.

It has commissioned 20 fertiliser distribution points following negotiations with NCPB to put an end to the mess, that always characterises demand for the subsidised farm inputs.

Long queues and scrambles at the Eldoret NCPB depot had been the order of the day as farmers preferred the fertiliser from those sold by private stockists.

County Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries Minister Cyril Cheruiyot, said the new arrangement by the county and NCPB would help farmers acquire farm inputs with ease.

“The measures put in place are favourable to farmers who have always suffered while seeking for farm inputs. All logistics have been put in place and they can start receiving it today at affordable prices,” he said.

He said the move was also meant to provide equitable and efficient distribution of fertiliser to farmers who have in the past encountered frustrations at the hands of unscrupulous dealers ahead of the planting season.

Cheruiyot said the agreement would necessitate farmers to group themselves and apply for inputs through agriculture extension officers spread across the region before being awarded vouchers.

“The officers will be mandated to confirm the acreage of the beneficiaries before authorising them to acquire fertiliser,” he stated.

The official also said the region would soon receive fertiliser 23.23.0 but will be able to acquire Calcium Ammonium Nitrate at Sh1,600, Diamonium Phosphate 18.46.0 at Sh2,480.

“Unlike previous processes which took days, the new option will enable farmers have inputs processed faster and be able to collect it within a few hours,” he explained.

Cheruiyot said the county government has put in place logistics that would ensure that fertiliser is transported through four trucks to the specified distribution centres.

He also said the process would avert avenues for unscrupulous dealers who take advantage of the situation to buy bulk inputs and later sell it at increased prices.