Farmers in Vihiga County have commended the government for the timely distribution of subsidized fertilizer at affordable prices as the short rain season planting begins.
A spot check by the Kenya News Agency (KNA) at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in Chavakali established that farmers are accessing the commodity with ease.
Speaking to KNA, the Chavakali NCPB Depot Manager, Abdallah Ngari, said the depot has adequate stock for the short rains season, which runs from July 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026.
Ngari said as of September 10, 2026, the depot had received 22,800 bags of fertilizer, comprising 9,600 bags of planting fertilizer and 13,250 bags of top-dressing fertilizer, adding that they are expecting to receive urea fertilizer next week for top-dressing sugarcane and Napier grass.
He said the full capacity of the depot is 135,000 bags of 50 kg fertilizer that is ready for distribution to the farmers of Vihiga County.
The manager noted that during the long rains season, the depot sold 19,631 bags of fertilizer, including 15,583 bags of planting fertilizer and 4,068 bags of top-dressing fertilizer.
Ngari said the government is offering the subsidized fertilizer at Sh 2,000 per 50 kg bag, which is much lower than the market price, where Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) is retailing at Sh 6,700 and Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) at Sh 4,950 per 50 kg bag.
To bring services closer to farmers, Ngari said the Chavakali NCPB has established distribution centers at Esirabe Primary School in Emuhaya Sub County and Mulukhoro in Luanda Sub County.
Farmers interviewed at the distribution centers expressed joy over the initiative by the government for them.
Brian Ndege, a farmer from Luanda Sub-County, said the subsidized fertilizer is much cheaper compared to the market price and thanked the government for the intervention.
“The fertilizer is cheaper at Sh 2,000. We are grateful, and this will increase food production in our farms,” said Ndege.
Similarly, Beatrice Vugutsa, a farmer from Emuhaya Sub County, said she is happy that they can now access fertilizer closer to their homes at an affordable price.
She said the move will save them transport costs and time previously spent travelling to Chavakali.
By Florence Oteng’o and Maureen Imbayi
