The County Government of Nakuru has announced the release of more than two million bags of subsidized fertilizer in preparation for the 2025 planting season.
Governor Susan Kihika, said the distribution will only be carried out through National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots within the County.
She said there was enough stock of the subsidized fertilizer at NCPD depots in Nakuru Town, Olenguruone, Solai, Elburgon, Naivasha and Subukia and called on farmers to collect the fertilizers as the County plans to roll-out more satellite distribution stores across the County.
Ms. Kihika said the collaboration between the National and County governments has been instrumental in scaling-up the subsidy program over the past two years, ensuring farmers also benefit from subsidized farm inputs.
Previously a 50-kilogram bag of fertilizer retailed for around Sh 6,500, while under the subsidy program farmers buy the same at Sh 2,500 significantly easing their financial burden.
Ms. Kihika indicated that the subsidy program had helped stabilize food prices by boosting local production, which has led to a significant drop in food imports from neighboring countries.
The Governor at the same time, reiterated her commitment to working with stakeholders to improve farmers’ access to farm inputs and other financial assistance.
While acknowledging that the fertilizer subsidy was one of the best performing programmes under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), Ms. Kihika explained that the programme had been critical in helping the country achieve the food security status it currently enjoys.
To ensure that farmers reap the maximum harvest from their crops, Ms. Kihika said that the fertilizer being distributed was soil and crop specific where they have fertilizer for maize, potatoes, beans, sunflowers and indigenous vegetables among other crops.
“We have different fertilizer formulations for the specific crops which is in line with the Kenya Kwanza agenda of cushioning the farmers against the high cost of fertilizer as well as increased agricultural productivity,” the governor explained further.
She assured farmers that the fertilizers were of quality and encouraged them to take advantage of the subsidy program aimed at increasing their productivity.
Ms. Kihika added that the county government had done numerous soil tests to ascertain the type and composition of the fertilizer needed, adding that subsidized fertilizer was safe to be used in the region.
She sent a stern warning to unscrupulous business dealers harboring any plans to sell the government’s subsidized fertilizer to farmers, stating that any such culprits would be arrested and charged.
Residents expressed optimism that with the fertilizer subsidy programme, they would reap high yield this season and at the same time lauded the government for cushioning them against the high cost of production.
By Esther Mwangi and Nicole Nduuti