Stiff rules spelt out for cheap fertiliser
PHOTO | FILE Agriculture Principal Secretary Sicily Kariuki at a past function.
What you need to know:
- The vetting committee will ensure farmers who need the plant food fill an official form declaring crops grown as well as the quantity of the commodity to buy based on the land prepared for planting.
- A 50-kg bag of DAP, and NPK will retail at Sh2,000, while CAN and Urea will go for Sh1,500. Sulphate of Ammonia will sell at Sh1,300.
The Agriculture ministry has issued new guidelines on the sale of subsidised fertiliser to farmers.
At the same time, farmers will only be allowed to buy 40 bags from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots countrywide.
With the onset of rains that will mark the start of the planting season expected soon, the Principal Secretary in the ministry, Ms Sicily Kariuki, who issued the guidelines on Friday warned that the consignment from the government is not for resale or re-packaging.
VETTING COMMITTEE
"Stern measures will be taken against any person found in these malpractices”, the PS warned.
For the first time this year, farmers will be vetted before they access the fertilizer by a committee at location level.
The vetting committee will ensure farmers who need the plant food fill an official form declaring crops grown as well as the quantity of the commodity to buy based on the land prepared for planting.
The forms should be countersigned and stamped by the chief or his assistant as well as the local agricultural officer, Ms Kariuki said.
The forms will further be verified by the NCPB depot manager, who will give the nod to pay for the commodity once satisfied with the contents.
A 50-kg bag of DAP, and NPK will retail at Sh2,000, while CAN and Urea will go for Sh1,500. Sulphate of Ammonia will sell at Sh1,300.
