NAIROBI: The Government has flagged off 25,000 metric tonnes of subsidized fertiliser to be sold to farmers at low prices for the coming planting season. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei received the fertiliser at the Port of Mombasa.
Mr Koskei called on county governments in the Rift Valley region to support farmers to acquire lime to reverse soil acidity, which has affected maize production in the area.
The CS said the county governments should also complement the national government by importing subsidized fertiliser given that agriculture has already been devolved.
He said another consignment of 3,200 metric tonnes of the fertiliser is scheduled to arrive in the country on February 6 and a further 16,500 on February 15. “The 50050MT top dressing fertiliser is expected in the country in March.
I urge North Rift counties to avail lime to farmers to reverse soil acidity and to also import additional fertiliser,” said Koskei. See also: Kenya now seeks to join global sisal board.
The Cabinet secretary said fertiliser prices were expected to drop this season compared to the similar period last year, noting that DAP and NPK will trade at Sh1,800 per 50kg bag while CAN will be sold at Sh1,500 per bag.
