The government, through the Secretary of Administration for the State Department of Agriculture, Harun Khator, has flagged off a new consignment of 20,000 metric tons of fertiliser from the Port of Mombasa to be distributed to farmers across the country as the long rainy season approaches.
An additional 1,300 metric tons is set to arrive before the planting season concludes.
The distribution, which aims to enhance food security and improve farm yields, will ensure that farmers nationwide have timely access to essential inputs for the planting season.
Speaking at the Port of Mombasa, Khator reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring countrywide access to fertilisers through continued collaboration with the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
“Already, train wagons are transporting the consignment to Naivasha, where trucks are on standby to distribute it further to key agricultural regions such as Uasin Gishu, Bomet, and Nakuru. This timely distribution will enable farmers to receive fertilisers in time for the long rains season,” Khator stated.
Khator urged farmers to take full advantage of the timely fertiliser distribution, expressing the government’s commitment to supporting them in boosting agricultural productivity.
“We are pleased to see the enthusiasm among farmers in receiving this fertiliser, and as a government, we remain dedicated to ensuring it reaches them on time. Our goal is to enhance farm yields and strengthen food security across the country,” he reiterated.
He highlighted the positive impact of the government’s agricultural support programs, noting that current statistics indicate an increase in maize and sugar production.
This boost in output, he noted, has contributed to stabilising the prices of these essential commodities, ensuring affordability for consumers while supporting farmers’ livelihoods.
Khator further explained that the distribution of fertiliser is being guided by data from the Kenya Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (KIAMIS), ensuring that registered farmers receive their allocations efficiently.
“The initial consignment has already been dispatched to NCPB depots and the last-mile distribution points, ready for collection,” he stated.
He emphasised that KIAMIS operates as a continuous registration system, allowing more farmers to enrol daily. “This growing registration is a positive sign that farmers trust the government’s policies and are confident in receiving the subsidised fertiliser on time,” Khator noted.
By Haniel Mengistu
