Farmers to access subsidized farm inputs during Easter Holiday, CS Linturi says

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has directed all National Cereals and Produce and Kenya Seed outlets countrywide to remain open during this Easter Holiday due to the ongoing planting season.

The Meteorological Department has indicated the long rains have started in some parts of the country, signaling the start of the planting season.

“I have instructed all Kenya Seed and NCPB stores across the country to remain open and serve our hard working farmers who are redeeming their e-voucher for the subsidized fertilizer and seeds,” said Linturi.

Linturi has also reiterated that the government is supplying quality and standard fertilizer to farmers across the country, refuting reports that some farmers have been supplied with sub-standard fertilizer from government stores.

“All the fertilizer available at NCPB depots are well tested and certified by the laboratories,” added the CS.

The Cabinet Secretary also encouraged farmers not to lose focus and continue to purchase the subsidized fertilizer, adding that the Kenya Kwanza government is a responsible regime that’s focused on improving the country’s food security.

He further stated that goverment advised farmers not to use fertilisers that increase acidity in the soil such as DAP but they use the NPK fertilisers and true to this, the results were incredible

“In 2023 we increased our maize yields to 60 million bags against the previous year harvest of 40 million bags due to the issuance of the DAP fertilizer,” Linturi said.

He additionally added that in 2023 the scale of farming in the country increased by 200,000 acres because of the government’s subsidized fertilizer programme.