Farmers’ pain as cartels hijack fertiliser subsidy

Unscrupulous traders have hijacked the government’s fertiliser subsidy programme, denying farmers much-needed inputs at the peak of planting season.

This situation is likely to precipitate a food shortage in the country. This is the latest agony to farmers, who are also grappling with fake inputs, government-delayed distribution and poor income from the previous harvest, making maize farming a costly venture.

Most are opting to plant conventional seeds without applying fertiliser.

A spot check by the Star in North Rift, Western Kenya and Nyanza regions noted cartel-like gangs selling a bag of subsidised fertiliser at exorbitant rates of between Sh3,500 and Sh6,000 per 50kg bag, more than double the price offered by the government.

The gangs are so daring that they are conducting the illicit trade adjacent to National Cereals and Produce Board and Kenya Seed Company depots.

Thus, they are competing with the government for impatient and frustrated farmers, who are queuing for many hours, hoping to access the much-delayed relief from the government.

On Friday, unscrupulous traders conducting their activities next to the Kitale NCPB depot attacked and beat up a journalist who exposed their operations.

Farmers are now pointing fingers at the government, attributing the crisis to late delivery by the government. “I suspect that unscrupulous traders are colluding with state officials to perpetuate theft of these vital resources,” Paul Naibei, a farmer in Moi’s Bridge, told the Star.

“Where are these thugs getting state fertiliser? I have unsuccessfully queued here for two days now.”

He wondered why the government should wait until the peak of planting season to distribute the subsidised inputs. A similar situation was witnessed in Eldoret, Kapsabet, Iten and Mosoriot, with farmers who fear that the commodity may run out of stock resorting to buying from the cartels at the higher prices.

Small-scale farmers’ spokesperson in the region David Kiberenge appealed to the state to ensure the subsidised fertiliser is distributed to buying centres at the village level so that farmers can get it easily without spending extra money on transport.

“We also need pre-planning so that farmers can always get fertiliser in good time so that they prepare early enough,” Kiberenge said.

“This last-minute business is hectic and causes unnecessary inconvenience to farmers, especially as concerns time wasting on queues and inltration of cartels.”

In Busia, Bungoma and counties in the larger Nyanza region, illicit traders are selling subsidised inputs in neighbouring counties, mostly Trans Nzoia and Uasin Gishu.

“When you go to the depots, you’re told that there is no fertiliser, come back later,” Rashid Ojaamong, a farmer from Malaba, said.

“But while in town and other roads, you see lorries and matatus transporting the commodity out of the county.”

He is worried that although long rains are already on, the shortage of essential inputs could lead to a serious food crisis next year.

Noah Okanusi, a farmer in Osajai location in Malaba North ward, said the government allocates subsidised fertiliser to every county, but some farmers collude with unscrupulous traders and hoard the fertiliser for sale in neighbouring countries.

“Many farmers have been forced to plant without fertiliser because they were waiting for the supply from the government since they cannot afford the market prices,” he said.

A senior official at NCPB, who requested to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter, on Friday said the process is mostly rigged at the registration stage, with unscrupulous farmers colluding with state officers to receive more vouchers.

“Fertiliser subsidy is one of the best-performing programmes under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, and it has been critical in helping the country achieve the food security status it currently enjoys,’’ he said.

“Unfortunately, dark forces have infiltrated the system to deny farmers benefits.”

Lake Region Economic Bloc vice chairman Kenneth Lusaka on Friday condemned unscrupulous individuals who are buying fertilisers at night from cereal boards and selling them at highly inflated prices.

This illegal activity, he said, threatens to undermine the government’s efforts to support farmers with affordable fertilisers. “We want to make it clear that the government has a very good programme to support our farmers with subsidised fertilisers. We cannot allow these individuals to exploit the system for personal gain,” Lusaka said.

“Their days are numbered. We urge everyone to be on the lookout and report any suspicious activities so we can ensure the success of this programme.”

Lusaka said protecting the initiative is crucial not only for the success of the planting season but also for ensuring the country’s food security in the face of climate change and other agricultural challenges.

He acknowledged that there have been some delays in the delivery of fertilisers but assured the public that significant efforts are being made to address the situation.

Although the Ministry of Agriculture indicated that it had procured 7.2 million bags of subsidised fertiliser for the 2025 long rains season, and that distribution commenced early in the year, long queues are still witnessed at depots in Western, Nyanza and North Rift regions.

On Friday, Agriculture PS Paul Ronoh conducted an extensive tour of grain-growing regions and reassured farmers. He said more than 500 lorries were on the road, delivering fertilisers to various designated areas.

“I don’t want to see you farmers idling here at the NCPB depots because we now have adequate fertiliser, which you should collect and go back to the farms,” Ronoh said.

“No one has a reason to complain because as a government, we have played our part.” Three days later, the fertiliser supplies had run out at all depots in North Rift, with farmers left to scramble for the little fertiliser that trickled in in lorries that arrived at intervals of many hours.

“I have been queuing here for hours but can’t get subsidised fertiliser because it is not available for now,” farmer Japheth Taurus, whom we found at the NCPB depot in Eldoret, said.

“We are told another lorry is just about to arrive and I hope to get the 10 bags I need so I can go for planting.” NCPB North Rift manager Gilbert Rotich said they were confident all farmers would get the fertiliser they need in good time for planting.

He said much of the subsidised fertiliser required in the region is in transit to the depots for distribution throughout this week, which is the peak of the planting season.

As farmers in other regions lament, their counterparts in Kakamega have commended the national government for providing farm inputs in good time. Jeremiah Okova, a farmer in Likuyani subcounty, said farmers have been accessing fertiliser and maize seeds from as early as January.

“Sometimes you go there and you’re told to wait. Today I was at the NCPB depot in Kakamega and the collection of fertiliser is ongoing, and another consignment has just been delivered,” he said.

Okova said planting seeds are, however, short in supply and could affect the season. Joshua Wesa from Butere subcounty said the subsidised fertiliser is available throughout the year and there are no complications in redeeming it once one receives an e-voucher.

Complications in accessing fertiliser subsidies have seen some county governments intervene.