County to provide additional collection centres for fertilizer

Kerugoya

Thursday, August 10, 2023

KNA by Mutai Kipngetich

Kirinyaga County government will provide additional storage facilities for the distribution of subsidized fertilizers in the county.

The farm input that is key in food production has been in the National Cereals and Produce Board in Sagana and few cooperatives stores which are far from many farmers.

Speaking in Kianyaga, Gichugu Constituency during the launch of the Affordable Housing Programme presided by the President William Ruto, Kirinyaga County Governor Anne Waiguru said her administration will provide more stores in all wards to ease access and collection by the farmers.

The subsidized fertilizer which currently sells at Sh 2500 per 50kg is part of the government’s key efforts in addressing the issue of rising food prices.

 “The county will provide stores at all wards to ease the process for farmers to obtain subsidized fertilizers at their convenience instead of traveling to NCPB stores in Sagana,” Waiguru said

She stressed on empowering farmers and encouraging increased food production through their hard work on the farms instead of doing demonstrations.

Earlier during the launch of the new pesticide in Mwea to control Invasive of Apple Snail in Mwea, Principal Secretary Crop Development Kello Harsama, said the government is planning to open another one-month window to register new farmers who were locked out during the initial registration process.

He urged all remaining farmers to seize the opportunity by registering for subsidized farm inputs as it is a good deal. He also acknowledged the challenge of not having the NCPB stores everywhere and directed the management of the NCPB to work with the county government department of agriculture to ensure they get extra secure stores near the farmers.

“Some farmers may not have registered for fertilizers for one reason but I want to announce that we will soon open registration for one month and will be done by chiefs like the past. Make sure you register for the commodity,” Harsama noted.

The PS assured the farmers they will all receive an SMS alert from the service provider to collect the fertilizers after he directed the person monitoring the process to ensure the messages don’t delay. 

Courtesy ; K. N. A