Kenya to double subsidized fertilizer to 12 million bags in 2024

KENYA – In a bid to enhance food security and cut reliance on imports, the Kenyan government has launched nationwide distribution of subsidised fertilizer, with an ambitious target of issuing 12 million bags of the product to farmers.

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi spoke on Wednesday, January 31 at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in Nakuru County, where he flagged off 2,300 bags of the commodities for Nakuru County farmers.

He said that this year, his ministry would aim to double the number of subsidized fertilizer bags from the previous 6 million distributed in 2023.  

Linturi expects this initiative to raise maize production from 61 million bags in 2022 to 80 million bags, alongside tackling post-harvest losses through 100 mobile grain dryers.

“We are proud that in 2023, we managed to produce 80 million bags of maize due to the use of subsidized fertilizer,” said Linturi.

The CS also unveiled five solar mobile grain dryers for farmers at Elburgon, Olenguruone, Subukia, Naivasha and Nakuru NCPB Depots.

He noted that the government targets eradicating post-harvest losses of grain harvests through the use of mobile grain dryers for sufficient drying before storage.

According to CS Linturi, so far, the ministry has distributed 43 out of the 100 grain dryers that the government recently acquired.

“The Kenya Kwanza administration is determined to increase food production in the country and reduce post-harvest losses through modern technology and advanced farming solutions as we aim to achieve food security,” added Linturi.

Accompanying the CS, Dr. Paul Rono, the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Crop Development, appealed to farmers sell and store their maize through the NCPB saying the charges are favorable.

“We are charging Ksh10 per bag and Ksh70 for drying whereas to sell we are paying KES4,000 per bag. I want to request the farmers who have excess maize in their store to take advantage of the government plan to buy maize from farmers through NCPB,” he added.

The government is also cracking down on fake seeds and pesticides to ensure all seed sellers provide certified seeds, with 30 arrests already made.

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