Farmers to gain in new plan for cheaper fertiliser

Farmers will benefit from further cuts in fertiliser prices in a Sh4 billion incentive meant to promote soil sample testing in a bid to improve yields.

The National Accelerated Agriculture Inputs Access Programme targets more than 2.5 million farmers to benefit from the input sold at Sh2,000 per 50-kilogramme bag compared to Sh2,400 charged under the subsidised fertiliser scheme and more than Sh4,000 in commercial outlets.

However, the farmers will be required to provide soil profile of their farms issued after testing. This would help to determine the kind of nutrients and fertiliser the farm requires for maximum yields.

Speaking Tuesday at Egerton University in Nakuru during the launch of a report on soil testing conducted in 164 districts last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta said Sh3.94 billion had been set aside to buy 142,750 tonnes of fertiliser.

The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute analysed the soil samples collected from all the ecological zones in Kenya.

The programme followed studies that revealed a decline in quality of soils in Kenya was the cause of low agricultural productivity.

President Kenyatta cited the findings that indicated most soils were deficient of crucial minerals such as phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium.

Agriculture PS Sicily Kariuki said that the programme had reached 529,000 households in the last six months.