Kenya set to begin importing fertiliser from Tanzania
The government has put in place plans to import cheap fertiliser from Tanzania starting July this year in a move aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and reduce the cost of food production.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi stated that the move to import fertiliser from Tanzania will see the government cut on transportation costs from overseas.
Linturi stated that the government will continue subsidising fertiliser and retain prices currently retailing at Sh3,500 until a lasting solution is reached.
“The government is planning to import fertiliser from Tanzania beginning July as a short-term measure…. This will ensure farmers access cheap fertilisers bearing in mind the proximity and cheap raw materials unlike from the European countries which makes it expensive and time consuming,” Linturi said.
The announcement comes after the CS visited Itracom, the manufacturers of Fomi fertilisers in Tanzania who were convinced by the producer’s model of incorporating usage of organic manure and phosphorous which in return enrich soil to bolster production.
“We believe the firm is the right way to go keeping in mind that the firm has increased food production in Tanzania by over 39 per cent in return reducing cost of production by bigger margins,” concurred Linturi.
Linturi observed that the government plans to construct a fertiliser production company in the country so as to bolster production and cut on higher costs in a bid to contain the overdependence on imported fertilisers which skyrocket food production.
This will come in handy for the country which has had efforts to have a fertiliser company locally but has been thwarted due to myriad reasons with the product mainly sourced abroad.
“A fertiliser manufacturing plant will probably increase agricultural production as it will lower cost of critical farm input which in return will reflect in reduced cost of food production for the country,” Linturi reaffirmed.
The move is seen efficient following recent comments by agronomists who claim the European and American imported fertilisers are designed for foreign soils which have a different soil PH compared to Kenyan soils used by local farmers.
President William Ruto while announcing fertiliser subsidy of up to Sh3,500 per bag, stated that the government has in store plans to have imported six millions of bags ahead of the much awaited long rains in March.
