Algeria donates fertiliser to Kenya

By Peter Ochieng

Algerian government has donated 16,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser to Kenya.

Mithika Linturi, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for agriculture and livestock on Wednesday joined the Algerian ambassador to Kenya Mahi Boumediene, during the reception of fertilizer at the Grain Bulk Handling Ltd Facilities, Port of Mombasa.

"The donation of 16,000 metric tonnes of urea fertilizer to Kenya is timely since, as a country, we require 900,000 metric tonnes of assorted fertilizer to adequately produce our food," said the CS.

"The fertilizer consignment from Algeria will greatly supplement our efforts in increasing agricultural production and productivity through affordable inputs to farmers as we strive to reduce food prices."

The fertiliser comes in at the time farmers in several parts of the country, are preparing for the long rains planting season.

The CS said this year, the government is planning to acquire 630,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer comprising of 50 percent basal and 50 percent topdressing.

“We are therefore increasing investment in edible oils, rice, cotton, tea and leather value chains. Fertilizer therefore becomes a critical element in ensuring that productivity of the prioritized crop value chains is achieved,” he shared.

“In the current financial year, 2023-2024, my ministry has planned to acquire 630,000MT comprising 50 percent basal and 50 percent topdressing fertilizers. It is envisaged that the farmers who will access these fertilizers will be able to double their production in order to enhance the attainment of food and nutrition security.”

In addition, the former Meru Senator said the Kenya Kwanza administration has registered over 6 million farmers for food production and value addition, under the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

"To serve the farmers better, we have mapped and registered 6.4 million farmers alongside value chain actors such as agro-inputs dealers, aggregators, processors, extension service providers, marketing centers, transporters, among others.”

On his part, the Algerian ambassador said the move seeks to strengthen ties between the two countries.