By Lauryne Akoth
The government is set to distribute 12.5 million bags of subsidized fertilizer to farmers in the 1,450 wards countrywide by the end of this year.
The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mithika Linturi said the subsidized fertilizer would be in 50 kg bags.
Linturi highlighted the upcoming Second Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) Summit, set to take place from May 7th to 9th this year at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi.
The event is a joint effort between the government and the African Union, with the theme ‘Listen to the Land’.
He emphasized that by supplying farmers with fertilizer, the government is responding to the needs of the land and addressing soil requirements across different regions.
“We are listening to our land here in Kenya and are very aware the solution for our soil health challenges is not a one size fits all approach, but rather listening to what the soil needs in various regions,” stated the CS.
Linturi made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf by the Principal Secretary for Agriculture Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh at a Media Breakfast meeting held on Thursday at a Nairobi hotel.
He stated that the government is collaborating with farmers, agronomists, governments, development partners, civil society, and all stakeholders to promote the adoption of regenerative practices, policies, and approaches aimed at enhancing the long-term value of land.
The CS also underscored the importance of the Kenyan National Fertilizer Subsidy Programme, noting that it provides fertilizer at half the cost of commercial rates, and has become a central policy in the government’s endeavors to boost food production and alleviate the impact of escalating food prices.
“With the subsidy outlay of Sh3.55 billion, the programme is intended to bolster Kenya’s agricultural sector and help to stabilize food prices,” said Linturi.
Regarding the allocation of subsidized fertilizer nationwide, the CS announced that the government has so far distributed a cumulative total of 3.6 million 50 kg bags to farmers for use during this year’s long rainy season.