Reprieve to Farmers as Government Announces New Fertilizer Prices

Farmers have a reason to smile after the government on Friday announced new subsidized prices for fertilizers.

In a press statement, the government stated that a 50kg bag of DAP fertilizer will retail at Sh2800 while that of CAN of the same quantity will retail at Sh1950.

A 50kg bag of UREA will retail at Sh2700 while that of NPK will retail at Sh3,000. MOP and Sulphate of Amonia will retail at Sh2500 for a 50kg bag each.

The government stated that the fertilizers will be available at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) stores countrywide beginning April 2.

"To ensure efficient delivery and control mechanisms are in place, the fertilizers will be available at NCPB stores countrywide effective tomorrow.

"These government agencies will sell the fertilizers at agreed subsidized prices to stabilize the prices of critical fertilizers to the Kenyan farmer," read part of the statement from the Ministry of Agriculture.

In the statement, the government stated that fertilizer prices in the last 12 months had risen to levels that affected both small and large-scale farmers who contribute to 100% of the food in the country.

The government attributed the rise in the prices to producer countries restricting exports to protect their farmers after heavy consumer demand.

Extreme winter conditions in Europe was another factor as gas prices increased in Europe causing many urea and nitrate production factories to shut down. The Ukraine-Russia tensions further disrupted the global fertilizer industry.

"It is with this background that the government sees the need to expand our fertilizer subsidies to farmers for their food crop production towards assured food security in the country," the statement further read.

The government added that it had set aside Sh5.7 billion to subsidize 2,280,000 50kg bags for farmers growing food crops.