Farmers in Taita Taveta County have been asked to take advantage of the subsidized fertilizer programme sponsored by the government to maximize food production ahead of the planting season.
Speaking during the flagging off of the subsidized fertilizer at Voi National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPD) deport in Voi, Chief of Staff (CCO) for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation Stephen Macharo asked small and large scale farmers to utilize the subsidized fertilizer well to realise a bumper harvest.
Lauding the programme, he said residents will access the fertilizers from within their sub-counties, a move which will save the farmers the cost of traveling to pick and ferry the fertilizers to their farms.
“This programme has come at the right time when the national and county governments are now focusing their energies in the agricultural sector through the subsidized fertilizer distribution targeting to make farming a commercially viable sector,” he added.
The CCO further stated that, “If we have food, we have solved almost three-quarters of our problems. Let’s prepare our lands for the expected rainy season, use these fertilizers well in order to have a hunger-free environment.”
He, however, warned those intending to repackage and sell the fertilizers and at higher price that they will face the rule of law.
“Things given by the Government should never be taken by someone and resold. If you don’t do farming, you are not allowed to take this fertilizer at KSh2500 and then sell it to another person at a market price of KSh5000. We’ve announced this several times, if found, you’ll be held responsible and you’ll be taken to court,” said Mcharo.
Filgona Ooko, Director in the State Department for Crops Development who was representing the PS, noted that the fertilizers will be issued to registered farmers at KSh2500 and advised residents to not only grow subsistence food but also grow cash crops that would earn them a living.
“We have crops that we strongly focus on in a better economy; crops that produce oils. We have been informed that there are registered farmers that are ready to grow sunflower on over 20 acres of land. Depending on the area, the farmers will get fertilizers to boost their production,” she added.
“This region has the ability to grow other traditional crops like sorghum, which for a long time we’ve forgotten but they have the majority of the nutrients that are needed for a healthy growth,” she added.
The county governments will support farmers especially in doing soil testing in order to ascertain the nutrients needed with a particular soil so that farmers can be advised on the best fertilizer to be used for maximum production.
On his part, NCPB’s Coast region manager Joseph Nzomo noted that there are over 3000 bags of subsidized fertilizer from the Government across the county. He stated that there are two types of fertilizers — NPK 23-23-0 and Mavuno that farmers will take depending on the nutrient needs of their lands.
“In this programme, you are not restricted to take the fertilizer from Voi, if the fertilizer you want is not available here, you can take it from Mombasa, Kwale, because all our NCPBs are there to serve you.”
Voi Deputy County Commissioner Daniel Nduti asked farmers who wish to sell their farm produce to retain some food noting that the future is unpredictable and that there is need to be conscious to avoid selling everything and suffer from hunger.
