Principle Secretary (PS) of the State Department of Agriculture Paul Rono has assured Nandi residents that they will receive an adequate supply of fertilizer this planting season.
Speaking after flagging off the government-subsidized fertilizer at Lessos, Nandi Hills Sub County National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot, Rono said that the depot and its satellite centres will be receiving four to five lories of fertilizer daily as a measure to ensure all registered farmers get enough for their farms noting that this will lead to increased harvest thus tackle the food shortage in our Country.
The PS advised those farmers who have not yet registered to do so to avoid missing out and to escape cartels who take advantage of them.
Rono however warned all cartels who are selling government-subsidized fertilizers noting that the Ministry’s multiagency team will arrest them and ensure they face the law.
“Lessos depot and its satellite depot centres will be receiving at least four lories of subsidized fertilizer to ensure adequate supply,” pointed out PS Rono.
To avoid long queues at the deports the PS noted that in the next season, the Department will ensure fertilizers are availed to depots on time before the planting season.
He also promised to collaborate with the County government to increase staff as well as computers used in the exercise to expedite the registering and issuing process.
“Next season fertilizer will be distributed early before the planting season. We will partner with the County government to increase staffing as well as several computers to fast track the farmers’ registration and fertilizer distribution,” pointed Dr. Rono noting that this will go a long way in easing the long queues experienced.
Nandi Governor Stephen Sang called on the Ministry to help in renovating the Lessos NCPB and upgrade the machines in the depot to avoid breakdowns that might lead to accidents.
At the same time, he said that the fertilizer being supplied is not enough for the farmers noting that Nandi County requires at least 40,000 bags of fertilizer in one season yet they had received less than half of this.
Sang also noted that most farmers have been getting low yields due to vague seeds urging the Department to start availing certified seeds at the depots to save farmers from the counterfeit seeds they buy from shops.
The County boss said that the NCPB depots in the County were not enough and promised to ensure they open over 15 depots across the County before the next phase of fertilizer supply.
“This depot has been serving too many farmers in this region. To ease the congestion here we have started opening depots across the County. We have already opened a depot at the ground in Kapsabet and another one at Nandi Tea Estate in Nandi Hills Town. Before the next phase we want to ensure we have opened 15 depots in different parts of the County,” explained Sang noting that this will ease access by farmers at minimum transportation costs.
By Ruth Mainye
