Food security at risk as State faces hiccups in fertiliser distribution

Agriculture PS Dr. Paul Kipronoh Ronoh responds to queries when he appeared before the National Assembly Agriculture and Livestock Committee on the 2025 Budget Policy Statement at Parliament on February 21, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] Hiccups in distribution of fertiliser across the country threatens President William Ruto's goal of achieving food security which featured prominently in his Kenya Kwanza manifesto and a major pledge during his campaigns. While the Ministry of Agriculture has urged farmers to collect fertiliser from the respective depots, there have been challenges, leading to delays. State Department for Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh explained that the fertiliser is being distributed according to the planting seasons in the respective food basket regions. Parts of North Rift and Western, which is a major food basket for grains such as maize, are now a priority. Farmers in counties of Kericho, Elgeyo Marakwet, Uasin Gishu, Homabay, Baringo and parts of Western are currently prioritised in the distribution as rains have started in these areas. Dr Ronoh said the shift will go to Central region counties of Nyeri, Kiambu, Kirinyaga and Laikipia from June heading to September as that will be the planting season there. "We have made sure we distribute depending on the seasons farmers are planting. You will now see fertiliser going to North Rift region and Western but from June going forward, it will be going to Central region," Ronoh said at a Press briefing yesterday. He said the government has provided fertiliser in large quantities and depots have been replenished with a million bags. "We have enough fertiliser. Let farmers not panic. We have provided fertiliser in large quantities," said the PS. While the government has even enticed farmers with lower prices for the precious commodity, Dr Ruto's administration is facing the same teething problems in distribution just as his predecessor did. In his manifesto, Ruto cited challenges with access to farm input, primarily fertiliser, as the reason behind low productivity in agriculture. He presented fertiliser distribution as a key factor in managing the cost of living that is largely driven by price fluctuation of food items. "The cost of living that we are experiencing can only be resolved by raising agricultural productivity. The battle is between farmers needing higher incomes and consumers who want low prices," the manifesto reads in part. "By enhancing productivity through access to affordable inputs, including fertiliser and certified seeds, we will see the farmer earning more money and subsequently reducing the six million bags (of maize) imported on average annually and lower the cost to the consumer," the manifesto reads. The President's vision was to increase production from 10 bags to at least 30 bags of maize per acre, and access to fertiliser was key to this goal. In his 2023 State of the Nation address, President Ruto documented how his efforts of lowering the price of fertiliser to Sh2,500 from the market price of Sh6,500 when he came into office saw a boon in maize production. During that planting season, acreage under maize increased by 200,000 and production saw additional 18 million bags from the 5.5 million in the previous season that was marred with a prolonged drought. "As a result of these interventions, today a two-kilogramme packet of maize flour is selling at a low of Sh145 and a high of Sh175 depending on the brand, down from Sh250. A gorogoro of maize is selling at between Sh60 and Sh75," Ruto said during the September 2023 State of the Nation address. The President also attributed this boon to digitisation of distribution where farmers are enrolled in a digital register, which ensures the actual farmer is the one getting the fertiliser. "This database enabled us to implement an e-voucher system through which farmers received their fertiliser consignments for planting and top-dressing of maize, tea, coffee, rice, potatoes, cotton and edible oil crops," he said. In 2024, data from the Presidency shows the government distributed seven million bags of both planting and top-dressing fertiliser between February and September of that year. This intervention, said President Ruto, will see a projected increase in maize production to a record of 74 million 90-kg bags. "We have also concluded long-term agreements with eleven suppliers of assorted fertiliser so as to make this commodity available all year round," he said. "Fertiliser for the long rains season will be stocked in outlets nationwide, ensuring our farmers are ready to plant, grow and produce," he promised during the September 2024 State of the Nation address.

Food security at risk as State faces hiccups in fertiliser distribution

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