CS Kagwe says farmers to get subsidised fertiliser after logistical challenges resolved
So far, at least 2.6 million bags have been distributed for planting ahead of the long rain season, and Kagwe assured farmers that they would have enough fertiliser to plant on time.
Farmers will access subsidised fertiliser starting Monday, March 24, 2025, after the government resolved the logistical challenges that had caused delays in distribution.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said on Saturday that over one million bags of fertiliser are ready for issuance through the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots.
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“We are aware that for the last two days, farmers who visited NCPB depots could not redeem their e-voucher messages to access subsidised fertiliser because of the logistical challenges to provide the farm input," Kagwe said.
He assured farmers that the government had resolved the issues, and distribution would now continue smoothly.
“Despite the setback, the issuance remained stable all along. However, the government would like to assure farmers that all the logistical challenges have been addressed and that as of Monday 24th, March 2025, we expect the issuance of over one million bags of fertiliser to stabilise and match the high demand,” he said.
Enough fertiliser
So far, at least 2.6 million bags have been distributed for planting ahead of the long rain season, and Kagwe assured farmers that they would have enough fertiliser to plant on time.
“To fast-track delivery, we are now using train wagons which have already departed the Mombasa port and are set to arrive at the Naivasha inland port by Sunday morning. Further to boost our supplies, an additional 1,380 metric tons are en route to the Mombasa port,” Kagwe said.
He urged farmers to redeem their e-vouchers as soon as possible, especially now that the onset of the rains had caused panic among those who feared planting delays.
“The spirit of our farmers should remain high by coming out in numbers to redeem their e-voucher messages occasioned by the onset of the rains which could have caused panic among those who would not want to be late to plant their crops,” he said.
Kagwe further warned farmers to be cautious of fraudsters selling fake or substandard fertiliser.
“We would also like to urge our farmers to beware of criminals taking advantage of the high demand of the farm input by illegally selling fake or substandard fertilizer. Farmers are encouraged to only purchase fertilisers from registered distributors and NCPB. The efforts put in place by the Anti-Counterfeit Authority to crackdown such criminals are encouraged and hailed.”
He emphasised that ensuring farmers get quality inputs remained a top government priority.
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