The fertiliser is being distributed to NCPB depots for planting this season.
The government has also put up measures to ensure unscrupulous businessmen do not repackage and resell the fertilisers, the board said.
Two teams from NCPB and two others from the Ministry of Agriculture who are monitoring the cargo from source to the farmer.
The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB is holding 1.6 million bags of subsidised fertiliser for distribution to farmers.
The fertiliser is being distributed to NCPB depots for planting this season.
After two weeks, farmers will access the commodity at a subsidised fee of Sh1,800 per bag for the planting fertilisers and the Sh1,500 for top dressing.
The government has also put up measures to ensure unscrupulous businessmen do not repackage and resell the fertilisers, the board said.
Chairman Col (rtd) Geoffrey King'ang'i said the board, which buys and stores cereals for strategic food reserve and relief supplies has a stock of 1.6 million bags of mixed fertilisers.
Security measures are in place to prevent theft of the commodity.
“We have approximately 100 trucks that are waiting to transport the cargo. The loading is going on well. we we are able to load about 100 trucks in 24 hours. We will work 24 hours to ensure fertiliser is loaded and delivered to the farmers,” he said when he flagged off transportation of fertiliser at a Mombasa depot.
Col (rtd) King’ang’i warned unscrupulous businessmen against rebranding or reselling the fertilisers adding that they have put up new security features to deal with the crime.
Two yarns - yellow and green
The bags have two yarns, one yellow and the other green.
“We don’t make this kind of yarn. It was made specifically for this bag so that in case you open the bag to try and reduce the weight maybe try get two kilos out of the bag and reseal it again, it will be very difficult for you to get this yarn. The public should know if it is not sealed with this yarn then it has been tampered with,” he cautioned.
He said there is a warning on the bag stating that the fertiliser is not for repackaging or reselling.
“So stern action will be taken to anyone caught diverting or adulterating the fertiliser. We have also installed tracking mechanism for every truck that leaves. It is monitored until it delivers the cargo to the depot and report comes back ,” he said.
He said there are two teams from NCPB and two others from the Ministry of Agriculture who are monitoring the cargo from source to the farmer.
“The criteria for distribution of fertilizer, you need to be registered, we won’t sell to anyone who claims to be a farmer, and there is a list from the Ministry of Agriculture. So any farmer who is not registered in the list should go to the ministry offices to be registered,” he added.
NCPB managing director Newton Terer said the fertilisers will be distributed as per the distribution list which has been prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Mr Terer said the fertiliser will be distributed to areas that experience long rains including as Rift Valley, Nyanza, Western and parts of Coast region.
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