Senators criticise proposal for new fertiliser regulatory board

Senators have criticised a proposal to create a board to oversee purchase, sale, distribution and regulation of fertiliser.

The Senate Agriculture Committee, whose chairman is Mr Kiraitu Murungi (Meru, APK), said existing institutions should be strengthened to ensure farm inputs are provided to farmers in time.

A proposed law — the Fertilisers and Animal Foodstuff Bill — that originated from the National Assembly, seeks to establish a Fertiliser Board of Kenya to take over the distribution of the input from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).

However, the senators suggested that instead of creating a new agency to take over distribution of fertiliser, existing institutions such as the Kenya Farmers Association and the Kenya National Trading Corporation should be strengthened and assigned that function.

They said the institutions had the structures to ensure fast delivery of the input to farmers.

Delay in acquisition and distribution of fertiliser has been blamed for poor harvests because farmers often resort to planting without the required quantities of plant nutrients.

The Bill, which is sponsored by Mr Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini, ODM), will enhance the penalty for violation of the Act from Sh1,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month for a first offender, to Sh100,000, if passed.

Senator Otieno Kajwang’ (Homa Bay, ODM) opposed it, arguing that it went against the government’s intention to reduce parastatals to enhance their efficiency.

“Why create another parastatal for fertiliser alone when the President is trying to reduce them?

“We had a number of institutions that were doing well in procuring and ensuring farmers accessed farm inputs on time,” he said.

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Senator Henry ole Ndiema (Trans Nzoia, Ford-K) expressed fear that Kenyan products might not be accepted in global markets should the Veterinary Services director’s role in fertiliser regulation be removed.