North Rift Farmers Fertiliser Shortage

Government officials inspecting subsidised fertiliser at the NCPB depot in Eldoret before supplies were depleted

Subsidised fertiliser shortage has persisted in many parts of the North Rift region forcing many farmers to delay planting.

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Queues are still being witnessed at most of the National Cereals and Produce Board depots as farmers desperately wait for subsidised fertiliser to be delivered.

The government has been delivering the fertiliser in small quantities that do not satisfy the huge demand.

Farmers representative Kipkorir Menjo says the shortage has been worse this year compared to previous years.

“It’s evident that the government was not prepared well this year and that's why no one has come out to explain why the shortage is this serious," Menjo said.

A spot check at NCPB depots in Eldoret, Nandi, Moi's Bridge, Turbo, Kipkaren and Trans Nzoia indicated that many farmers had been placed on waiting lists with lengthy waiting periods.

The farmers are now warning of low production of maize and other cereals following shortages of fertiliser especially preferred varieties known for good yields.

Farmer Ben Maswai said they had been force to use any available variety of fertiliser after missing out on OCP which is preferred by many growers.

“We thought the government had organised itself early enough to ensure we get adequate fertiliser but we are now caught up in a chaotic situation chasing for it yet time is not on our side,” Maswai said.

Many farmers in the North Rift are now protesting against the shortage as the government races to ensure adequate supply.

Another representative of the farmers in Trans Nzoia John Kimeto said they were particularly annoyed that there has been a shortage of the OCP variety.

“We believed the government had prepared adequately and we never expected the shortages we are now witnessing," he said.

Uasin Gishu farmers Benson Kiplimo, said they had been promised that the OCP variety would be supplied but it was taking time to arrive.

“As promised we had hoped to get OCP, which we used last year and got good harvests, but time for planting is now running out and we now have to use the other varieties,” he said.

The OCP variety is manufactured in Morocco and is blended to suit soil varieties in specific regions and for specific crops.

Agriculture Principal Secretary Kiprono Ronoh said additional fertiliser was on the way to the NCPB depots from Mombasa.