- Taveta and Mwatate farmers get new fertiliser collection points.
- The move is set to cut transport costs and ease access to farm inputs.
- Taveta has received the first batch, with Mwatate next in line.
Farmers in Taveta and Mwatate sub-counties are set to benefit from improved access to subsidised fertiliser, following the decentralisation of distribution points by the Taita Taveta County Government.
New collection points cut travel burden
The initiative, spearheaded by Governor Andrew Mwadime, aims to reduce the transport costs incurred by farmers who previously had to travel to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in Voi to collect the farm input.
Under the new arrangement, farmers in Taveta will collect subsidised fertiliser at Mahandakini Centre, while those in Mwatate will access the input through Diwadane Cooperative in Bura.
The county government said the move is part of efforts by the Agriculture Department to lower production costs, improve agricultural productivity and strengthen food security across the county.
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The initiative is also expected to make it easier for small-scale farmers to access essential farm inputs without spending a significant amount of money on transportation.
First batch already dispatched
The first batch of 600 bags of fertiliser has already been dispatched to Taveta, while Mwatate is expected to receive its allocation in the next batch.
Meanwhile, farmers in Taita Sub-County are already accessing subsidised fertiliser at Werugha, where more than 62,000 bags have been collected so far.
Part of wider county agricultural push
The county administration said the decentralisation of fertiliser distribution is intended to support farmers by putting agricultural inputs within easier reach of farming communities.
The programme is expected to contribute to the county’s broader agricultural goals of reducing the cost of production, increasing food availability and improving household incomes by ensuring farmers get better support throughout the farming cycle.
By Bernard Magada
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