North Rift farmers assure of feeding the Nation if challenges are addressed
Photo -Kenya Seed
By Mercy Too
Farmers from Uasin Gishu County and the North Rift region have called upon the cabinet secretary for agriculture Hon. Mithika Linturi to re-look into the fertilizer distribution program that was brought in place by the Kenya Kwanza government.
Speaking in Eldoret where the CS flagged off fertilizers to be distributed in the region, the farmers blamed the low supply and logistical challenges for late planting.
“I am a farmer here, I have not received any text message and it’s getting late because I normally plant my maize on 5th March. This leaves me with no option because I have gone up to the county commissioner’s office who told me only 40% of farmers have received the fertilizers while 60% have not yet received the subsidized fertilizer.” Said Arap Kolum .
Either the farmers implored upon the Minister to address the extra charges imposed on the 50kgs fertilizer bags unlike the advertised prices as declared by the government.
“As farmers from these areas are requesting for this processing fee to be removed at which they charge us 70 Kenyan shillings extra for every 50kg bag that costs 3500 Kenya shillings adding the Yara fertilizer retails at more than 4,000 Kenya shillings more way and above the government set price of 3500 shillings.” He added.
The farmers urged the agriculture CS to find time and spend with the farmers who want to raise the challenges they are currently facing in the agricultural sector which they note if corrected on time can result in bumper harvests ,enough to feed the Nation.
“If you find time, come sit down with the farmers because we have been mistaken. We want Agricultural Development Corporation to be producing seeds for Kenya Seed who remain as the sellers and Agricultural Finance Corporation to be the farmers’ bank where we can borrow funds which we’ll repay upon harvesting. We are also requesting for machinery’s and chemicals to be zero rated. If you do this for us, we’ll feed this Nation and the neighboring countries.” Assured another
About Author
