Mango and dairy farmers in Murang’a listed in the minimum guaranteed subsidy programme will from April this year receive their financial support from the county government in form of e-voucher.
Since last year, more than 21, 000 farmers from the two sectors have been receiving the subsidy in form of cash with the county government changing the mode of payment in order to seal loopholes in the programme.
The Governor Irungu Kang’ata’s administration has announced the listed farmers will get e-voucher to enable them access farm inputs and foodstuff from locally prequalified agrovet stores and shops.
The county government established a subsidy programme early in 2023 to help mango and dairy farmers to increase production as well as caution them from fluctuation of prices.
Mango farmers were receiving Sh 3.50 per kilo of delivered produce while those in dairy farming were getting Sh7 per delivered litre of milk.
“The county administration will stop issuing cash support and instead introduce an e-voucher mobile phone-based system. Milk and Mango farmers will redeem the said vouchers in agro vets across the county for various items including dairy meal, Artificial Insemination, maize/sorghum seedlings and foodstuffs,” read part of the notice issued by the county government.
The move to change mode of giving subsidy through e-voucher the county administration stated it was informed by advice from various stakeholders so as to make the programme more impactful.
With the e-voucher, the devolved unit promised to increase the number of beneficiaries by 20,000, by the end of March this year.
In the notice, the county explained that with the new mode of payment of subsidies all farmers will get an equal amount which will ensure support to the majority of farmers.
“With the e-voucher, the county government will increase the number of farmers benefiting from the programme.” read part of the notice.
The county administration further announced that from March 14 to March 24, it will conduct a farmers’ list verification exercise and public participation meetings in every ward.
With the e-voucher, Kang’ata’s administration stated farmers will spend the county’s resources strictly on inputs and not on other unrelated matters.
“The farmers who stop supplying milk/mango to their respective cooperatives will be easily detected and replaced. This method will also support other stakeholders like agrovets and veterinary officers.” indicated the county government.
By Bernard Munyao
