Counties in the North Rift have teamed up with NCPB to open more centres for the distribution of subsidised fertiliser.
Move by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) comes as farmers prepare for the planting season.
Rainfall has intensified in counties in the region, which are high-producing areas for maize and other cereals.
Governors Jonathan Bii of Uasin Gishu, Stephen Sang of Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet’s Wisley Rotich said they are happy that the government had delivered much of the fertiliser required ahead of the planting season.
“As a county, we are working with the NCPB to ensure we have more fertiliser buying centres closer to farmers in their respective areas,” Bii said.
He said they were involved in last-mile distribution of subsidised fertiliser so that farmers do not incur additional transport costs.
“The county has opened more buying centres, especially in areas where we do not have NCPB stores,” Bii said.
Farmers in the region have been assured of genuine fertiliser as authorities monitor the sale and distribution of the farm input across the region.
Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Edison Nyale said security teams were already on the ground to prevent tampering and ensure only genuine fertiliser is sold to farmers.
“We are on alert, and we will not allow anyone to tamper with even a single bag of fertiliser,” Nyale said.
Governor Bii said the county government had also partnered with security agencies to protect farmers from unscrupulous dealers.
“We are determined to ensure subsidised fertiliser reaches the intended beneficiaries,” he said.
The governor commended officers who apprehended suspects in Naiberi after they were found with counterfeit fertiliser.
Sang said they were happy that President William Ruto had kept his pledge to ensure farmers access to subsidised fertiliser in good time.
“The President is keen to ensure the country is always food secure, and that is why he ensures the subsidised fertiliser arrives in good time ahead of planting,” Sang said.
PS for Agriculture Kiprono Rono confirmed that much of the over four million bags of fertiliser required for planting had already been moved to all NCPB depots.
“This time we are also on high alert to ensure there will be no circulation of fake fertiliser, and anyone found engaging in such illegal business will be dealt with according to the law,” Rono said.
The PS said the government would ensure there are no long queues at NCPB depots, where collection of subsidised fertiliser is expected to increase from this week in most parts of the region.
