KFA Uasin Gishu branch director Kipkorir Arap Menjo addressing the press in Eldoret town on February 6, 2018. [Photo/Elvanis Ronoh]
Farmers in the North Rift region have asked the national government to put in place measures that will ensure availability of adequate subsidized fertilizer ahead of the planting season.The Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) Uasin Gishu branch director Kipkorir Menjo says this will enable them plant early."We are calling upon the national government to fastrack the process of importing subsidized fertilizers, we don't want a situation where we will be forced to plant our crops without this commodity," Menjo said in Eldoret on Tuesday."The fertilizer should reach at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots before the end of February for it to be helpful to us," he added.Menjo further challenged President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto to fulfil their preelection campaign pledge of further reducing the cost of subsidized fertilizers."We urge the two leaders to honour their promise of reducing the subsidized fertilizers prices from the current Sh1,800 to Sh1,200. This will at least reduce the cost of production hence farmers will reap from their sweat," he noted.This year's planting season in the North Rift, the country's food basket, is expected to begin as early as March.