Gatundu North sub county agricultural officer Bernice Muthoni has called upon the county government of Kiambu to collaborate with the national government to conduct soil testing in all parts of the sub county to establish the appropriate fertilisers to match the soils.
Muthoni who was speaking to tea farmers at Gatunguru village on Monday said that tea production in the area has been declining due to monoculture, soil acidity and declining soil fertility.
"The continued use of Di Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) is the major contributing factor to soil acidity in Gatundu North. I'm urging the county to partner with the national government to subsidise soil testing for our farmers," she said.
Muthoni revealed that the county government has set aside Kshs. 13 million to finance the distribution of fertiliser to indigenous farmers.
The officer urged farmers in the area to stop over relying on tea planting and embrace horticulture farming as well and grow crops like tomatoes, avocados, bananas and vegetables that can be exported to earn more income.
She said that the county government will shift to non- acidifying fertilisers that will be distributed to farmers at a subsidised rate.
She requested funding from the national government to facilitate the building of a fertiliser plant in Kiambu county to ease farmer’s access to the crucial farm input.