Farmers rejoice as fertiliser prices plunge to KSh 2,500 from KSh 7k

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- Farmers in Kakamega County say government-subsidised fertiliser now costs around KSh 2,500, down from as high as KSh 7,000

- Maize farmer Norah said cheaper inputs allowed her to extend production across farms in Kakamega and Kitale

- Farmers are calling for wider distribution points so they do not have to travel long distances to access subsidised fertiliser

Farmers across Western Kenya say a sharp drop in fertiliser prices has made it possible to cultivate larger pieces of land and achieve better harvests, with several producers reporting measurable improvements in household food security since government-subsidised supplies became available.

Lawrence Wabuko, a farmer from Butere in Kakamega County, said the cost of a bag of urea at local agrovets previously reached close to KSh 6,000, making it difficult for smallholders to cover their entire farms with adequate inputs.

"Before, a bag of urea at the agrovet could cost close to KSh 6,000. For a farmer with a bigger farm, it was difficult to buy enough fertiliser to cover the whole piece of land," Wabuko said.

He said government-supplied fertiliser is now available at approximately KSh 2,500, effectively doubling the quantity a farmer can purchase with the same budget.

"With KSh 6,000, where you could previously buy one bag, you can now get two bags. That means you can cover a larger area and give your crops the nutrients they need," he said.

Wabuko added that affordable fertiliser carries particular significance in Butere, where acidic soils make inputs essential for productive harvests.

He urged authorities to establish more distribution points at cereals board outlets and at sub-county level to spare farmers long journeys.

"We need enough fertiliser in every cereals board and, where possible, in every sub-county. Farmers should not have to travel from Butere to Kakamega or face congestion just to get fertiliser," he said.

Impact on Maize Production and Food Security

Martin Shikuku, another Kakamega farmer, echoed similar sentiments, noting that fertiliser which once sold for between KSh 6,000 and KSh 7,000 now retails at around KSh 2,500, making the economics of farming considerably more manageable.

"When farmers can afford fertiliser, they can plant more and get better harvests. That helps us produce more food and reduces the pressure that leads to hunger," Shikuku said.

Maize farmer Norah said the price reduction had allowed her to expand production across farms in both Kakamega and Kitale.

She previously budgeted between KSh 4,000 and KSh 6,000 per bag depending on the brand, which restricted the acreage she could put under maize.

"With the current price, the same money that used to buy one bag can help me get more bags. The quality is dependable, the yields are good and I have been able to put more land under agriculture," she said.

She noted that demand at distribution centres remained high, with stocks sometimes running low when many farmers arrived at the same time.

Dorothy Selebwa, also farming in Western Kenya, said affordable inputs were enabling her to feed her household and support orphans and widows in her community.

She called on the government to pair continued fertiliser subsidies with road improvements, specifically referencing ongoing works on Shimanyiro Road, which she said would ease the movement of produce to markets.

"If the government continues with affordable fertiliser and completes the road works, families will have enough food and can produce more for sale. Farming and trade will become easier," Selebwa said.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.