Gusii farmers to enjoy easy access to subsidized fertilizer from government,
Gusii farmers to enjoy easy access to subsidized fertilizer from government
In order to provide farmers with discounted fertilizer, Mr. Kello Harsama, Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department for Crops Development, has unveiled miniature National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots in a number of sub-counties in Gusii region.
The Crops Department decided to start mini depots after farmers voiced their concerns about the high transportation costs incurred when purchasing their fertilizer from the one NCPB depots located in Nyansiongo and Kisii town for Nyamira and Kisii counties, respectively. The PS stated this while launching the subsidized fertilizer at Nyamira North Sub County.
PS Harsama stated: “My department, in consultation with your constituency leaders, decided to launch mini supplying depots in Gusii land for easy access of this fertilizer because many farmers in Gusii land were unable to access governments’ subsidized fertilizer because of the high transportation cost and in addition, the fertilizer was brought late when the majority of farmers had already planted their maize crops.
According to the PS, “The President has decided to reduce the cost of crop production for the common people so that it will eventually reduce the cost of flour and other food products thanks to subsidizing fertilizer so that complaints about the high cost of basic food like flour will be reduced.” Joash Nyamoko, a North Mugirango MP who had accompanied the PS, said that the decision to establish new mini NCPB depots was greatly appreciated because most farmers were deterred from using subsidized fertilizer because of prohibitive transportation costs and the difficulty of delivering the fertilizer after the majority of farmers had already begun to plant.
The newly opened NCPB depots were used by the Principal Secretary (PS) for Crops Development, Mr. Kello Harsama (right, in checked blue coat), to distribute subsidised fertilizer in the Ekerenyo Sub County. DEBORAH BOCHERE F in a photo
