More than 4,000 rice farmers in three counties are set to benefit from government's subsidized fertilizer procured at a cost of Sh21 million, Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr Richard Lesiyampe has said.
The fertilizer produced under the National Accelerated Agricultural Inputs Access Program (NAAIAP) will be distributed to be used by the farmers in seven sub counties in Kisumu, Siaya and Busia counties.
He said the 12,420 bags of fertilizer disbursed will benefit a total of 4,140 rice farmers in the counties.
“The objective is to enhance inputs access and uptake in agriculture so that we kick out food insecurity," said Lesiyampe.
He said in the current financial year, the government imported 137,926 metric tons of assorted fertilizers worth Sh4.5 billion.
Mr Lesiyampe said counties in the former Nyanza and Western provinces were allocated a total 436,180 bags.
He said Kisumu received 63,980 bags, Siaya 20,160 bags and Busia 17,900 bags at the local NCPB deports.
“As a long term solution, the government support has identified a strategic partner, Toyota Tsusho Corporation to undertake fertilizer manufacturing in Kenya," said the PS.
Lesiyampe said the facility is already under construction in Eldoret and is expected to come into production in August.
He was speaking during the flagging-off of the fertilizers at Kisumu’s Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground.
His speech was read by the National Cereals and Produce Board Managing Director Newton Terer.