An Agricultural economist, Justice Boit, has commended the government for rolling out the fertilizer subsidy programme saying the initiative had enhanced food production among smallholder farmers.
He said the reduction of the prices of a 50kg bag to Sh2,000 in Phase Three in 2026, from Sh2,500 in Phase Two in 2023 and Sh3,500 in Phase One in 2022, compared to Sh6,000 before the intervention had great impact in food production in the country.
Speaking in Eldoret, the economist said the phased reduction has directly lowered the cost of production at a time when global fertilizer prices had pushed many farmers out of production.
He observed that the subsidy had not only increased maize yields per acre in the North Rift region but had also helped stabilize food prices and improve household incomes.
“The move from Sh6,000 to Sh3,500 in 2022 was a relief, but the further cut to Sh2,500 in 2023 and now Sh2,000 in 2026 is what has made farming profitable again for the small-scale farmer,” he said.
He went further saying the surplus production due to farmers having applied the right quantity of fertilizer has helped, as of now, the 2kg packet of maize flour is retailing at Sh160 from Sh240 in 2022.
He added that the rate of importation has reduced, for instance in 2022, 793,000 tonnes were imported, in 2023 it reduced to 507,000 tonnes and in 2025 to 468,000 tonnes.
He added that farmers are now able to take their children to school, run businesses and carry out development to sustain their livelihoods.
Further, he urged farmers to embrace water irrigation provided to improve agriculture and water management and not to rely solely on rainfall for agriculture.
By Shaline Jeruto
