National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) Chairman Samwel Ragwa has assured farmers preparing to plant in March next year that they will receive the government-subsidized fertilizer by November this year. Ragwa stated that tenders for fertilizer procurement have already been issued, and the board is currently assessing the quality to prevent a repeat of last season’s distribution of substandard fertilizer.
Speaking during a visit to Iten to inspect the county’s readiness for fertilizer distribution, Ragwa commended the region for its leadership in the last-mile distribution project, highlighting that 11 centers are already operational. Governor Wisley Rotich also announced plans to open three more distribution centers to improve access and reduce transportation costs for farmers.
Governor Rotich urged the NCPB to ensure that fertilizer is delivered by December, stressing that any latecomers should still be served by February to facilitate planting. He also called on the board to enhance their communication system to ensure farmers are promptly notified when the fertilizer arrives at their respective distribution centers.
Ragwa confirmed that the board would collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture to handle the messaging to farmers.
Additionally, North Rift Regional Director Gilbert Rotich projected the country would produce 47 million bags of maize this season, with 2.5 million bags coming from the county.
Ragwa also announced plans to construct a maize depot in the county, allowing farmers to store their produce locally instead of transporting it to Uasin Gishu. He expressed optimism that with increased maize production, the price of maize flour could drop to below Sh100 for a 2kg packet.
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