Kirinyaga County government will provide additional storage facilities for the distribution of subsidised fertilisers in the county.
The farm input that is key in food production has been in the National Cereals and Produce Board in Sagana and few cooperative stores, which are far from many farmers.
Speaking in Kianyaga, Gichugu Constituency, during the launch of the Affordable Housing Programme presided over by President William Ruto, Kirinyaga County Governor Anne Waiguru said her administration will provide more stores in all wards to ease access and collection by the farmers.
The subsidised fertiliser, which currently sells for Sh 2500 per 50 kg, is part of the government’s key efforts to address the issue of rising food prices.
“The county will provide stores at all wards to ease the process for farmers to obtain subsidised fertilisers at their convenience instead of travelling to NCPB stores in Sagana,” Waiguru said.
She stressed empowering farmers and encouraging increased food production through their hard work on the farms instead of doing demonstrations.
Earlier, during the launch of the new pesticide in Mwea to control the invasive Apple Snail in Mwea, Principal Secretary Crop Development Kello Harsama, said the government is planning to open another one-month window to register new farmers who were locked out during the initial registration process.
He urged all remaining farmers to seize the opportunity by registering for subsidised farm inputs, as it is a good deal. He also acknowledged the challenge of not having the NCPB stores everywhere and directed the management of the NCPB to work with the county government department of agriculture to ensure they get extra secure stores near the farmers.
“Some farmers may not have registered for fertilisers for one reason, but I want to announce that we will soon open registration for one month and that it will be done by chiefs like in the past. Make sure you register for the commodity,” Harsama noted.
The PS assured the farmers they would all receive an SMS alert from the service provider to collect the fertilisers after he directed the person monitoring the process to ensure the messages didn’t delay.
By Mutai Kipngetich
