Nairobi,
Thursday, May 2, 2024
KNA by Bernadette Khaduli
The government is committed to providing 12.5 million bags of subsidized fertilizer to famers in all the 1,450 wards across the country this year for use during the long and short rain seasons.
The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mithika Linturi said the subsidized fertilizer would be in the 50 kg bag.
Linturi said in regards to the upcoming Second Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) Summit scheduled for May 7th to 9th this year to be hosted by the government in collaboration with the African Union at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, themed ‘Listen to the Land’, by providing farmers with fertilizer, the government has listened to her land and what the soil needs in various regions.
“We are listening to our land here in Kenya and are very aware the solution for our soil health challenges is not a one size fits all approach, but rather listening to what the soil needs in various regions,” stated the CS.
The CS made the remarks in a speech read on his by the Principal Secretary for Agriculture Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh at a Media Breakfast meeting held on Thursday at a Nairobi hotel.
He said the government is working with farmers, agronomists, governments, development partners, civil society and all stakeholders towards adopting regenerative practices, policies and approaches that would improve the long term value of land.
The CS said the Kenyan National Fertilizer Subsidy Programme which offers fertilizer at half the prices of the commercial rates has emerged as a pivotal policy in the government’s efforts to expand food production and mitigate soaring food prices.
“With subsidy outlay of Sh3.55 billion, the programme is intended to bolster Kenya’s agricultural sector and help to stabilize food prices,” said Linturi.
Regarding the distribution of subsidized fertilizer across the country, the CS announced that the government has to date distributed a total of 3.6 million bags of 50 Kg to farmers for use this year during the long rains season.
Courtesy; KNA
