The government maintains its commitment to providing 12.5 million bags of subsidized fertilizer to farmers across the country this year ahead of the expected long rainy season.
Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi says the distribution exercise has kicked off in time for the farming season which has commenced in most parts of the country.
Linturi also announced that in a bid to reduce the overreliance on imported edible oil, for every purchase of subsidized fertilizer, farmers will receive free certified sunflower seeds.
He says the high-quality subsidized fertilizers will help boost food production in the country and enhance nutrition and food security.
“All the steps we are undertaking underscores the government’s dedication to bolstering agricultural self-sufficiency,” he said.
The CS accompanied by Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani and State Department of Crop Production Principal Secretary Paul Rono spoke during the flagging off of the subsidized fertilizer distribution excise at the National Cereal and Produce Board in Kwale town.
He said the flagging off the distribution of fertilizers and seeds to farmers in the area as part of measures of the government to ensure bumper harvest by local farmers during this rainy season.
The minister at the same time inaugurated bulk mobile grain dryers aiming to support farmers in preserving their yields effectively.
He stressed the importance of utilizing the dryers noting the role they play in preventing post-harvest losses and ensuring the proper storage and drying of harvests.
The Agriculture CS urged farmers to register and redeem vouchers promptly as there is a sufficient supply of certified fertilizers.
Emphasizing oil crop production, especially in Kwale, Linturi says his ministry is providing complimentary sunflower seeds to farmers alongside their fertilizers fostering agricultural growth.
Later the Agriculture minister inaugurated the Kwale PAVI Milling facility in Msambweni, Kwale County, he emphasized its role in increasing farmers’ incomes in the Kwale PAVI (Kwale Pamba na Viazi) farmers’ cooperative through value addition.
He highlighted value addition for its positive impact allowing local farmers in Kwale to not only harvest their grain but also enhance its value.
Governor Achani says the mobile cereal driers can dry 110 bags of cereals in 2 hours and it comes as a major boost to Kwale smallholder farmers who had a bumper harvest in the last season.
By Hussein Abdullahi
