State releases 20,000 tonnes of subsidised fertiliser

By BENARD SANGA

MOMBASA, KENYA:  The first consignment of subsidised fertiliser targeting the 2014 long rains has hit the market after nine trucks transporting the commodity to rural areas was flagged off.

The 20,000 tonnes is part of 100,000 tonnes of assorted fertiliser the Government committed to purchase during the 2014 long rains to cushion farmers from fluctuating prices of the farm input.

According to Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Felix Koskei, the different types of fertiliser in Friday’s consignment would be sold at Sh2,500 down from the current price of Sh6,000 per 50 kilogramme bag. In October, the Government bought 42,750 tonnes of various fertiliser valued at Sh2.4 billion, which was distributed to farmers during the short rains as part of its stop gap measure to bring down the cost of the product.

Waiver of taxes

“We are flagging off today part of the 100,000 tonnes and the remaining balance shall arrive at the end of December and January,” said Koskei.

In a speech read on his behalf by his counterpart from the Ministry of Labour Kazungu Kambi, Mr Koskei warned unscrupulous traders who would be found selling the fertiliser above recommended prices.

He said with the initiative, the Government expected food production to increase and not only increase farmers’ income, but also boost the country’s food security.

The Government, according to the minister, was keen to reach small scale farmers in the programme “majority of whom do not use the input at the recommended rates due to high prices”.

The country’s annual fertiliser consumption is approximated to be 53,000 tonnes below the one million tonnes that would be the case if farmers were using the recommended rates. The Government estimates that if farmers used optimal level of fertiliser, the country’s food production would increase by 30 per cent.

Koskei said in order to spur growth in fertiliser use, the Government had initiated various interventions, which include the liberalisation of the fertiliser trade, waiver of taxes on the input and provision of the commodity to poor farmers.

“One of such effort is through the National Agricultural Accelerated Input Access Programme, whereby a package consisting of fertiliser and seed for one acre is given to resource poor farmers,” said Koskei, adding that the programme has so far reached 529,000 farmers. He said in this financial year, the programme targeted 10,280 farmers with a grant of Sh104 million.

Kazungu also said Koskei was currently out of the country to fish for a firm to partner with the Government to put up a fertiliser factory in the country.

The Labour minister said Coast was also poised to benefit from a consignment to arrive in February.

He said the Cabinet had already approved the creation of a Fertiliser and Seed Development Fund in August this year with an initial capital of Sh3 billion building up to Sh15 billion in the next five years to make the input affordable.