Govt faulted for delay in distributing fertiliser

Govt faulted for delay in distributing fertiliser

West Pokot County Senator Professor John Lonyangapuo has faulted the national government for delaying the release of planting fertiliser for this year’s planting season.

Lonyangapuo said the Agriculture ministry has failed to disburse fertiliser to National Cereals Produce Board in the counties on time and complained of slow fertiliser shipment saying that he had spoken to the minister in charge stressing the importance of getting the fertiliser on time.

“The minister told me that the government will reduce the delays and will make considerable improvement by delivering early,” said Lonyangapuo.

Speaking at Murkwijit during Massey Furgerson tractor clinic day, Lonyangapuo said it is shameful for the government to delay fertiliser disbursement in Kenya and yet some parts of the country had begun to experience rains.

“Nyamira and Bomet Counties have started planting without fertiliser, how will farming go on without fertiliser,” he posed.

He urged county governments to write MOUs with fertiliser companies to enable early shipment and delivery.

The senator proposed that the government should disburse the subsidised fertiliser before the end of February, adding that the agriculture ministry should test the soil to determine the right type of fertiliser to be used.
“Last year we were given the wrong fertiliser which did not produce good yields, we don’t want the mistake to be repeated,” he said.

He pointed out that  West Pokot County has been greatly affected by hunger and there is need of relief food rather than giving the affected families money to buy food that is not available.

“Residents should now shift their focus from cattle keeping to cash crop farming during rainy seasons because during a drought spell many of the livestock die,” he added.

During the Massey Ferguson tractor clinic day farmers who own Massey Ferguson tractors were treated to free education and maintenance of their tractors which was sponsored by Baldan Brazil Company.

Famers were also advised on tractor care and calibration of Baldan machinery so that they can get value from their tractors.

“We are here for good service to farmers so that they can increase production in their farms through agriculture,” said Wilian Caetano, Baldan’s technical demonstrator.

Tags:

Drought fertilizer and seeds fertilizer subsidy program Lonyangapuo delayed fertilizer MPs John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot) planting season

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