Farmers in West Pokot County have lauded the government’s subsidised fertiliser programme noting that it has cushioned many of them against the high cost of farming.
Speaking during the launch of the national fertilizer subsidy at Kapenguria National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot, the farmers expressed their gratitude to the government saying the programme has helped improve food security in the area.
Agostino Psinen said he benefitted from last year’s subsidy programme and his maize crop did well.
Psinen said that as a farmer, the programme came in handy and wishes the government continues to upscale it so that many farmers benefit.
“We wish that the government considers having sub-depots so that those small-scale farmers in the interior areas can have easy access to subsidised fertilisers. Even if in some areas rains failed but at least those where we had enough rains people harvested enough,” said Psinen.
He noted that in the case of establishment of sub-depots across the county, it would be one way for the government to create job opportunities for the residents hence solving youth unemployment.
He noted that last year, the distribution of the subsidised fertilisers experienced hiccups because of the inadequate staffing at the Kapenguria depot forcing some farmers to spend nights out for them to access the services.
He said some areas within the county have great agricultural potential that if residents were supported, then the region could become a food basket.
The farmers also hailed the government for supplying the Kapenguria depot with a drier noting that they have been relying on the natural drier, which is the sun, and sometimes risked aflatoxin.
“We also wish that the government provides an aflatoxin testing lab here so that we don’t incur expenses going to Kitale for the tests. Some of the food-producing areas in our county are very cold and sunshine is scanty,” stated the farmer.
In a press statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock read by Assistant County Commissioner in the office of the County Commissioner Emily Ogolla, the Kenya Kwanza Government has prioritised some value chains through the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) that would be the most effective in realising food security, reduce food imports and increase imports.
“The Agricultural sector in Kenya being the backbone of the economy contributing approximately 25 per cent of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), fertiliser is therefore a critical element in ensuring that productivity of the prioritised crop value chains is achieved. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development is tasked to ensure that the National Fertiliser Subsidy programme for the 2024 long rains season is rolled out,” read the statement.
The Ministry using the Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (KIAMIS) registered a total of 6.4 million farmers across the country according to the statement.
“The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has registered close to 16,000 agro-dealers in the just concluded registration exercise. This is to ensure that the fertilizer has been brought close to the farmers at the last mile,” read the statement by the ACC.
Farmers were encouraged to dial *616*3# to get information and confirmation from accredited officers from the county governments who will visit their farms to a certain the acreage, location, and soil structure before they are loaded into the voucher system.
West Pokot County Director for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Peter Kodlwaran said as a department they were elated by the government’s enumeration of farmers saying once the data is made available to the county it will greatly assist in county planning of agricultural support programmes.
Kodlwaran asked farmers in the region to take advantage of the subsided fertilisers and avoid last-minute rush since last year there was a lot of congestion at the depot.
“If you have means now you can visit and make your purchases rather than waiting for the onset of long rains which usually prompt a lot of congestion,” he advised.
By Richard Muhambe
