Farmers have been given a reprieve as the Ministry of Agriculture increased the number of bags that can be purchased under the subsidy scheme from 20 to 40.
The figures have been lowered from the ministry’s initial announcement of 20 bags of 50 kilogrammes, according to Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya of the Business Daily.
“We have increased the number of bags from 20 to 40 so that farmers can benefit from this subsidy scheme,” he said.
NCPB, which distributes the product on behalf of the government, said it has received official information from the ministry to enhance the distribution to farmers.
Previously, the NCPB had refused to carry out Mr Munya’s roadside directive to raise the quantity of fertiliser bags distributed to farmers, claiming that the decision had to be made in writing.
Mr Munya stated that the subsidy will only be delivered to registered farmers, preventing unscrupulous businesspeople from buying and selling it to farmers.
The Sh5.7 billion put aside by the government would help farmers raise food crops by subsidizing 2.28 million 50-kg bags of fertiliser. These quantities will enable farmers to cultivate 1.13 million acres.
Mr Munya had told Parliament in March that his ministry needed at least Sh31.8 billion to effectively offer the subsidy to farmers.
The Cabinet secretary said should the ministry get the Sh31 billion, the price of the planting fertiliser (Diammonium Phosphate) would drop to Sh2,800.
Fertiliser for maize farmers was not included in the current budget, however, other crops such as coffee and tea received Sh1 billion each with sugar getting Sh1.5 billion.
The surge in global fertiliser prices began at the beginning of 2021 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has worsened the situation.
The rise in prices is also due to producer countries such as China, Russia and Turkey restricting exports to protect their farmers compounded by heavy consumption demand from India, Brazil and US buying up large quantities, hence reducing available global supplies.
