Gov't has secured 5 million fertilizer bags, President Ruto tells farmers

As the planting season fast approaches across the country, the topic of the availability and quality of fertiliser continues to dominate debate.

Farmers from sections of the country have complained about a lack of adequate quantities of the farm input, with long queues witnessed at various NCPB depots.

But now the president says the wait for the fertiliser is soon ending.

“We have 5 million bags…farmers should now plant and be able to feed the nation,” Ruto said on Sunday.

Quantity of fertiliser aside, there have been complaints and incidences where the quality of fertiliser supplied to farmers has been called into question.

President William Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet, speaking in Kisii County is calling for the government to protect farmers from those taking advantage of them by giving them suspect fertilisers

“Kuna watu wanshikana na wakora kuuzia wananchi fertiliser ambayo ni mchanga, tunataka polisi waende washike hao watu wanausia watu mbolea ambayo si halali,” Kibet said.

Last week, the Kenya Bureau of Standards, appearing before the Parliamentary Agriculture Committee admitted that there was substandard or fake fertiliser on sale in the Kenyan market.