Govt buys local fertiliser to cushion farmers from high prices

• Supplies to be ready by this Friday at NCPB offices
• Ruto says Govt had decided to buy the fertilizer locally to beat deadline of planting season.
• Another 150,000 tonnes of fertilizer to be imported by April to cushion growers from high prices during long rains

Farmers in areas relying on short rains for crop production have a reason to smile following government’s move to purchase 80,000 tonnes of fertilizer to help reduce its prices.

Agriculture Minister William Ruto said the supplies - bought from local dealers, will be available in all the National Cereal and Produce Board depots from Friday for farmers to buy at Sh4,000 per bag of DAP.

A bag of DAP is currently retailing at Sh6400.

“We have cleared the purchase of local DAP and planting fertiliser for the short rains,” Mr Ruto told the Nation in an interview in Nairobi.

Mr Ruto said the fertiliser is meant for farmers in Eastern, Central and South Rift which are now enjoying short rains.

“We have intervened to save farmers much suffering. The government is going to distribute the fertiliser from Friday,” the minister said.

He explained that the government had decided to buy the fertiliser locally to beat deadline of planting season in the areas.

It would have taken at least six weeks for imported fertiliser to reach the country, he said.

“Farmers are advised they can buy the fertiliser from NCPB depots and buying centres,” Mr Ruto said.

Farmers in the Eastern and Central regions have complained of failure of the government in providing cheaper fertiliser to cut down on high costs of inputs and boost crop production.

Mr Ruto however said the growers now had no cause to complain.

The minister said another 150,000 tonnes of fertiliser will be imported by April next year to cushion growers from high prices during the long rains.

The government was to sign contract with manufacturers for the supply of the fertiliser for the long rains on Tuesday.

The fertilizer, Mr Ruto said, will help farmers break even and boost food security.

“Our (government) mitigation efforts are on course and will prices of fertiliser drop by 40 percent. We are committing government money to ensure farm inputs,” he said.

He was happy that the prices of fertiliser were not as high now as they were two months ago.

He said lower costs of inputs will further help stabilise prices of maize flour.