Farmer calls on legislators to pass law to eliminate fertiliser middlemen

Mr Gideon Keter, a farmer from Kericho County. PHOTO | COURTESY

What you need to know:

  • A petition before the Senate asks the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that the cheaper fertilisers reach the common farmer at an appropriate time and without the involvement of the middlemen.
  • In the open market, a bag of fertiliser costs Sh3,000, whereas the government fertiliser has been subsidised to Sh1,800 per bag of planting fertiliser and Sh1,500 per bag of top dressing fertilizer.
  • According to Mr Keter, this model has not worked saying several bags were either stolen or repackaged and sold at a price higher than the subsidised one.

A farmer wants the government to distribute subsidised fertilisers at public primary schools to cut off middlemen who have conspired to deny them cheaper farming ingredients.

A petition before the Senate asks the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that the cheaper fertilisers reach the common farmer at an appropriate time and without the involvement of the middlemen.

The petition by Mr Gideon Keter, a farmer from Kericho County, seeks to establish distribution points of the commodity at the schools to make it easy for them to buy.

“Given the middlemen in fertiliser distribution and the fact that the government is setting up a fertiliser blending firm in Uasin Gishu County there is a case to seal loopholes in distribution,” said Mr Keter.

In the open market, a bag of fertiliser costs Sh3,000, whereas the government fertiliser has been subsidised to Sh1,800 per bag of planting fertiliser and Sh1,500 per bag of top dressing fertilizer.

The petition is set for formal introduction in the House as it has already been officially received by the Speaker’s office.

FARMERS SHORT-CHANGED

Once it is read in the House, it will be directed to the Agriculture Committee chaired by Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi.

Mr Keter yesterday said most farmers had not benefitted from the government’s move because of they are short-changed by fertiliser brokers who are after quick cash. He said taking the commodity to schools would be the better option.

“I have spoken to many farmers and they are saying they have not seen the cheaper fertilisers. This is a good programme by the government but it is not benefitting those it is intended to.

My petition seeks to deal with this problem,” he said. Presently, the government is using the National Cereals and Produce Board depots to sell the 50kg of the ingredient at Sh1,800 instead of the market price of Sh3000.

According to Mr Keter, this model has not worked saying several bags were either stolen or repackaged and sold at a price higher than the subsidised one.

“As a result 22 cereals board managers were sacked, not just at the headquarters but also at the depots in Karatina, Nanyuki, Nakuru, Eldama Ravine, Kitale, Kisumu, Changamwe, Kobujoi, Turbo, Thika, Meru, Mosoriot, Kithimani, Kilgoris, and Enoosaen,” he said.