Farmers upbeat as fertiliser hits stores

She urged the government to sustain timely distribution, saying it had helped eliminate middlemen who exploit farmers.

“For the first time, I did not have to deal with brokers who hike prices. The fertiliser is affordable and easily accessible,” she added.

Jane Talam, a farmer from Kwanza Constituency, noted that early access to fertiliser would allow farmers to prepare early for the planting season.

“Last season, we struggled with long queues and delays. Many of us planted late, which affected our yields. This year, things are different. The process is smooth,” Talam told The Standard.

David Wafula, a large-scale maize farmer who cultivates 100 acres in Cherang’any, said this was the first time fertiliser had been supplied before the new year.

According to Kitale NCPB depot Manager Milca Lunani, the depot had already served over 50,000 farmers, up from the 20,000 last year.

“We are seeing a significant rise in the number of farmers collecting different varieties of fertiliser, including planting and top-dressing fertiliser,” Lunani said.

Lunani added that the process had been seamless, with steady distribution since July last year for short-rain planting.

“The flow has been uninterrupted. Farmers have been turning up in large numbers, which is a testament to their confidence in the system,” Lunani said.

To further improve accessibility, Lunani revealed that the county government, through the Last Mile Programme, would begin distributing fertilizer to sub-county stores next week.

Production costs

“This will cut production costs for farmers by reducing transport expenses,” she noted.

The Trans Nzoia County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Agriculture, Phanice Khatundi, said maize production in the county had exceeded six million bags in the last season.

“Our farmers have worked hard, and with the availability of quality fertiliser, we expect even better yields this year,” Khatundi stated.