Govt slashes fertiliser, maize seed prices to cushion farmers from drought losses

NAIROBI, Kenya – Maize farmers will buy subsidised fertiliser and maize seeds at KSh 2,000 and KSh 150 respectively.

The Ministry of Agriculture announced a reduction in prices to cushion farmers from drought-related losses and enable them to return to production.

Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe explained the new intervention will see farmers purchase a 50kg bag of subsidised fertiliser at KSh 2,000, down from KSh 2,500 and certified maize seed at KSh 150 per kilogramme, down from KSh 300.

“This means a 2kg pack of maize seed will cost KSh 300 instead of KSh 600; a 10kg pack KSh 1,500 instead of KSh 3,000; and a 25kg pack KSh 3,750 instead of KSh 7,500,” the CS said in a statement seen by news9.africa.

CS Kagwe added that the maize seed intervention targets approximately 40 million kilogrammes, translating to an estimated KSh 6 billion in Government subsidy.

He said farmers will access the subsidised fertiliser and maize seed through government-designated distribution channels. 

Drought effect

Hundreds of thousands of farmers suffered losses following an unusual dry season that struck between July and August ahead of El-Niño.

Immediately after the planting season, when a majority of farmers in Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu and Nandi counties were preparing to top-dress their maize, an unexpected dry spell hit the region.

The spaced fields with yellow stalks now painted a grim picture of looming food insecurity as the country’s food baskets run empty. Farmers express their fears of poor harvest, lost incomes, and uncertain livelihoods.

During his assessment visit to Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia counties, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Paul Ronoh Kipronoh, said the ministry had projected that Kenyan farmers would harvest at least 80 million bags of maize this season.

Ronoh, however, said that due to drought, the yields may not be realised. He described the crop failure as devastating and added that the government intends to undertake several measures to help mitigate the situation.