Relief for farmers as Sh1.2bn assorted fertiliser arrives at Mombasa port
Workers offload fertilizer from MV IVS Pinehurst at the Port of Mombasa on March 15, 2016. The assorted fertiliser worth Sh1.2 billion is a relief to farmers who are preparing for the planting season before the long rains. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Bett said it would take a week to offload the fertiliser before it is transported by road to the North and South Rift and central regions.
- Rice farmers in Mwea and Kano plains will receive 108,400 bags of sulphate ammonia.
- Mr Bett said the fertiliser will be sold to farmers at a subsidised price of Sh1,800 a 50kg bag.
- He called on farmers to take advantage of the cheap fertiliser to grow more food.
About 800,000 bags of assorted fertiliser worth Sh1.2 billion has arrived in the country.
The subsidised fertiliser, which was received at the Mombasa port by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett on Tuesday, will come as a huge relief to farmers who are preparing for the planting season.
The almost 40,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser arrived on the MV IVS Pinehurst from Russia.
Mr Bett said it would take a week to offload the fertiliser before it is transported by road to the North and South Rift and central regions.
He said 566,400 bags of NPK 23:23:O fertiliser will be distributed to maize farmers in the North and South Rift while 122,800 bags of NPK17:17:17 will be despatched to farmers in the central region.
Rice farmers in Mwea and Kano Plains will receive 108,400 bags of sulphate ammonia.
MORE FERTILISER EXPECTED
The Cabinet Secretary said another of 600,000 bags of DAP fertiliser is expected in Mombasa on March 22, 2016 while 680,000 bags of CAN fertiliser will be delivered in time for the planting period.
He said 200,000 bags of fertiliser which had been stored in godowns in Mombasa had already been distributed to farmers.
“During this planting season, the government will purchase assorted fertiliser at a cost of Sh3 billion,” he said.
Mr Bett said the fertiliser will be sold to farmers at a subsidised price of Sh1,800 for a 50kg bag. The usual market price is Sh5,000 per bag.
Addressing a press conference at the port of Mombasa on Tuesday, the Cabinet secretary said the fertiliser would boost maize, rice and coffee production in the country.
He called on farmers to take advantage of the cheap fertiliser to grow more food as the surplus would be sold for them to improve their standards of living.
