Renewed hope for agriculture as Kenya’s North Rift all set for fertiliser plant

Posted on : Thursday , 10th September 2015

 Fertiliser prices are expected to drop once a Sh127.4 billion processing plant being constructed in Uasin Gishu County is completed. Deputy President William Ruto last week officiated over its groundbreaking. The plant is also expected to boost access to fertiliser for farmers in the region, encouraging more people to take up agribusiness. Cereal farmers in the North Rift have especially struggled with shortages of the input and its high costs, particularly when demand increases during the planting season and when crops need top dressing. This has often led to delays in planting and affected final yields. Construction of the fertiliser plant, which is part of Government efforts to make the product more available and affordable, will be undertaken by Toyota Tsusho Corporation. The North Rift region is one of the country’s leading agricultural producers and is classified as Kenya’s grain basket. “It is my expectation that the plant will become operational within the shortest time possible. The project will assist in addressing the high cost of the commodity, as transport charges will be greatly reduced,” said Kimutai Kolum, a maize farmer from the region’s Soy area. Mr Kolum added that cheaper fertiliser would enable farmers expand production acreage, boosting the country’s food security and improving farmers’ earnings. He said subsidised fertiliser costs Sh2,480 per 50-kilogramme bag this current season, or between Sh3,000 and Sh3,500 from stockists. With the establishment of a processing plant in the region, Kolum expects subsidised prices to drop below Sh1,500 a bag. Peter Leley, the Uasin Gishu County secretary, added that his government fully supports the project, which will have the added benefit of creating employment opportunities. “The project will also enhance the county government’s efforts to make agriculture a viable business venture.”