Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has directed the destruction of 27,518 bags of expired fertilizer stored in various National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots across the country.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) will oversee the safe disposal of the consignment, which comprises Sulphate of Ammonia (21%) fertilizer supplied by Fine Tech Edge Ltd between December 27, 2024, and January 6, 2025.
In an official statement on Thursday, Kagwe explained that before approving the contract, KEBS conducted tests on fertilizer samples to ensure compliance with Sulphate of Ammonia (21%N) and NPK fertilizer standards.
After meeting the required quality specifications, the supplier proceeded to deliver 34,100 bags (50kg each) to NCPB.
The disposal of the expired stock underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring farmers receive only high-quality agricultural inputs to boost productivity and food security.
However, after receiving the shipment, NCPB noticed that the fertilizer had a short shelf life, set to expire on February 28, 2025, as indicated on the packaging.
Recognizing that selling the entire consignment before the expiration date would be challenging, the board promptly informed the supplier and requested fertilizer with a longer shelf life.
Following standard operating procedures, NCPB management issued a sale stoppage order on February 27, 2025.
Subsequently, KEBS seized the fertilizer on March 4, 2025, halting any further movement until its safe destruction.
Since Fine Tech Edge Ltd supplied the fertilizer on a consignment basis, that requires the company to retain ownership until sale, making it responsible for all associated costs and losses.
CS Kagwe reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that Kenyan farmers receive high-quality agricultural inputs while maintaining public health and environmental safety.
“The government remains dedicated to upholding the highest standards in agriculture, and we will not compromise on quality,” Kagwe stated.
He also encouraged stakeholders in the agricultural and livestock sectors to adopt insurance measures to mitigate such losses, emphasizing that neither the government nor the public would bear any financial burden from the expired consignment.
