Govt procures 700,000 bags of fertilizer for farmers

Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Rono says government has procured an additional 700,000 bags of subsidized fertilizer for the long rains season to meet high demand from farmers. 

Smallholder farmers in some parts of the country complained that the subsidised fertiliser was out of stock last week.

The farmers are now being advised to check at their nearest National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot.

According Rono the additional fertilizer is on top of the 3.5 million bags that had been bought earlier.R

Rono says there has been increased demand for the subsidised fertilizer ahead of the long rains planting season.

Last mile distributors of the subsidized fertilizer are being vetted.

He says the government is extending the subsidy programme to seeds by availing cash to the Kenya Seed Company to lower retail prices and encourage farmers to use certified seeds.