Farmers from Nakuru and other parts of the country have decried a shortage of government-subsidized fertiliser.
Daniel Bett, a farmer in Njoro sub-county decried delays in release of the fertiliser distributed by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
"There is no fertiliser at the National Cereals and Produce Board. Even when you receive the message and go to their offices here in Nakuru, you will either get half of the fertiliser or none at all," Bett said.
Another farmer from Lawina Ng'ongo'ngeri, Mark Chelimo said they have been forced to get alternative fertilisers and seeds as the subsidised one is not adequate.
"Can the government look for a better way of helping farmers get the fertilisers? We are surprised that the fertiliser was distributed a few weeks ago but we don't get it. Today, some have got just half of what they wanted and others have missed out," Chelimo said.
Farmers also raised concerns over lack of a variety of seeds at the Kenya Seeds exposing them to risks of buying fake seeds in the market.
"We are on our own, framers are suffering, why don't we have enough seeds at Kenya Seeds? Seeds like 6218 and 62,6210 which we are used to are not available. This will expose farmers to possibility of buying fake seeds in the market," Chelimo warned.
He said farmers were buying fertiliser at Sh2,500 and selling a bag of maize at Sh2,700 which is a massive loss for them.
The government distributed subsidised fertiliser weeks ago ahead of the long rains. A consignment of 240,000 bags of NPK 23:23:0 was dispatched to NCPB depots and other distribution centres in Nakuru, Bomet, Narok, Migori, Kisii, and Nyamira counties.
