Gachagua: How Farmers In 12 Counties Can Access Subsidized Fertilizers

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has announced that farmers in 12 counties will be part of the pilot phase of rolling out subsidized fertilizers across the country.

In a statement on Friday, January 20, Gachagua listed counties such as Migori, Kakamega, Bomet, Bungoma, Kericho, Nandi, Narok, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot and Nakuru as those that will benefit from the first phase of the landmark Ksh3.6 billion programme.

However, he issued a reminder that only registered farmers can access the fertilizers through a new e-voucher system that will allow for full accountability and easy tracing.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua speaking during a sensitisation workshop of the phase one counties participating in the national fertilizer subsidy programme at Kenya School of Government on January 20, 2023. /FACEBOOK.RIGATHI GACHAGUA

“Only registered farmers can access the subsidised fertilizers through an e-voucher system for traceability and full accountability. The pilot counties include Migori, Kakamega, Bomet, Bungoma, Kericho, Nandi, Narok, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot and Nakuru,” Gachagua stated.

He added that the pilot phase targets about 2.1 million farmers in 12 counties. After a successful implementation, it will be rolled out to the rest of the counties.

"This action of the Kenya Kwanza Administration under H.E President William Ruto to subsidise agricultural production aims at bringing down the cost of living and making Kenya food secure," he added.

Gachagua spoke while officially opening a sensitisation workshop of the phase one counties that will participate in the national fertilizer subsidy programme at the Kenya School of Government, Nairobi. 

The workshop has representatives, including Deputy County Commissioners, CeCs for Agriculture and Cooperatives, and County Cooperative officers from the 12 initial counties who will ensure the delivery of the subsidy program.

The Fertilizer Subsidy Programme is in line with the Bottom-Up Economic Model. It will avail cheap fertilizer to farmers at their doorstep ahead of the coming long rains. 

A multi-sectoral framework, which includes Ministries of Interior and National Administration; Agriculture and Livestock Development; The National Treasury and Economic Planning; Co-operatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development; Investments, Trade and Industry, will work closely with the County Governments and other stakeholders.

The farmer registration exercise is aimed at creating a digitized national farmer register that will identify imposters and rogue traders who have been exploiting farmers by accessing and reselling the subsided fertilizers at high prices.

The matter of cheap fertilisers has been among the top items on the to-do list of President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza government since it took power on Tuesday, September 13.

His mission to lower the cost of fertiliser in the country took effect after the swearing-in ceremony when the government set aside Ksh3.55 billion through the National Treasury to implement the directive, which comes as good news to farmers seeking subsidised fertiliser.

On December 22, 2022, he vowed to eliminate brokers and middlemen in the food production chain to reduce the cost of farm inputs and benefit farmers from access to markets.