Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has hailed the national government’s fertilizer subsidy programme terming it a game changer in the agricultural sector.
Speaking at Sabata in Kiminini Sub County, Natembeya said the programme was a well-thought-out idea that, if well implemented, would lead to increased productivity.
Hitherto faced with challenges of distribution and availability in stores in the earlier years, Natembeya said the national government appears to have moved with speed to iron out the teething problems, as the commodity was this year supplied to the stores on time.
“I sincerely want to thank the President for the introduction of the fertilizer subsidy programme which has enabled most of our people to expand their agricultural activities.
The initial challenges like delays in supply faced during the introduction of the programme look like they have been addressed. This time around, the commodity was in stores on time for farmers to access,” he said. The programme, introduced by the government to cushion farmers from higher prices of the commodity and address challenges of food security, has received accolades from many quarters for the positive impact it has created on agricultural productivity. Before the programme was introduced, a 50-kilogram bag would cost farmers Sh7, 000. However, with the introduction of the subsidy programme, the same bag would be bought at Sh2,500.
Meanwhile, Natembeya challenged the government to consider regulating the prices of maize produce to help cushion farmers and enable them fetch profits.
He said that if this was not done, farmers would not manage to get value for their sweat, sometimes even ending up making loses.
While hailing measures introduced in the sugar sector, Natembeya said the price of one tonne of sugarcane was still too low and exploitative to the farmers.
“It is very much unfair to increase the price of sugar and you fail to reward the farmer. The current sugarcane prices of Sh5,000 per tonne are too low, they are favouring the millers at the expense of the farmers. If this is not addressed, farmers will continue to languish in poverty and may reach a level of disorientation,” he advised.
By Isaiah Nayika
