First consignment of subsidized fertilizer dispatched to farmers at port of Mombasa

Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh said the government is committed to fulfilling its promise of a farmers’ board to farmers.

He was quick to say that apart from the farmers’ board which will include a tea farmers’ board the government is also committed to the distribution of subsidized fertilizer.

“We are happy to see the government’s commitment to farmers, including tea farmers,” he pointed out.

Ronoh said the distribution of subsidized fertilizer which was being flagged off is the first batch with the second expected in three weeks.

He was speaking during the flagging off of the first batch of fertilizer consignment meant for small holder farmers imported by the Kenya Tea Development Agency [KTDA] at the port of Mombasa in Mombasa county. He was flanked by KTDA chairman Enos Njeru, KTDA Chief Executive Officer [CEO] Wilson Muthaura and Kenya Ports Authority [KPA] Managing Director Captain William Ruto.

The Agriculture Principal Secretary said the subsidized fertilizer is to be used by tea farmers in their farms.

Ronoh told the media the cost of the subsidized fertilizer remains at shs 2,500 in line with the government directive.

He added the tea farmers, like other farmers, will benefit from the  government’s subsidized fertilizer program.

“The government has put the program in place to benefit the farmers,” he said.