Farmers in Gucha sub-county have been advised to buy agricultural fertilizer from authorised dealers to avoid falling prey to con-fertilizer retailers.
Gucha sub county agricultural officer Richard Ogendo gave this advice on Monday during an interview in his office.
“The National Cereals and Produce Board of Kenya (NCPBK) depot in Kisii town is the only one authorized by the government to sell agricultural fertilizer to farmers in Kisii County,” said Ogendo.
He further observed that when farmers were not able to access the right type of fertilizer, majority ignorantly resorted to buying DAP fertilizer type, not knowing that this kind was too acidic for the soil which was the main contributor to poor yield.
Further, he said, the acidic fertilizer was more expensive compared to the ones provided by the authorized dealer that was already subsidized.
Ogendo noted that advanced con fertilizer retailers have devised mechanisms of producing substances similar to genuine fertilizers and majority of farmers had fallen prey to their trap only to realize too late that they had been conned.
“Different names labeled on fertilizer bags availed at NCPBK depot do not necessarily differ in its quality. The nutrients contained are similar. Only the ratio combinations differ slightly but they primarily serve the same purpose,” the officer clarified.
He advised farmers who cannot afford to procure the subsidized 50kg bag of fertilizer individually to look for fellow farmers with a similar challenge and form a group, pool resources and buy the fertilizer through one member in the group then divide it amongst themselves.
The agricultural officer appealed to those farmers who had filled request forms for fertilizer procurement to be patient as fertilizer would be availed at the Kisii NCPBK depot soon.
Ogendo assured farmers that fertilizer procured at NCPBK depot in Kisii town was of acceptable quality standards, affordable and farmers were assured of maximum yield.