by John Njagi
The price of a bag of subsidised fertiliser has been reduced to Sh2,000 for all varieties in Kenya. This is welcome news to farmers who have been buying the input at Sh2,500 a bag at National Cereals Produce Board (NCPB) stores.
The price cut was meant to boost yields, said Agriculture minister William Ruto while touring the NCPB depot in Kirinyaga.
The gesture has, however, been overshadowed by reports that thousands of bags of fertiliser meant for small-scale farmers were being repacked and sold at a higher price.
The scandal came to light when workers were found repackaging thousands of bags of fertiliser stamped “Government of Kenya” in a private firm’s go-down in Athi River.
Mr Ruto also announced that the government would buy maize from farmers at Sh2,300 a bag, up from Sh1,400. This will shut out brokers who have been buying the maize for as little as Sh900 per 90kg bag.
The Nation
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March 31, 2010
Fertiliser price reduced in Kenya
Categories fertilizer, Kenya
