President William Ruto has stated that the cost of fertilizer would be reduced to Ksh.3, 500, making it easier for farmers to purchase and boost food security in the country. Farmers will procure fertilizer at cheaper prices after his government rolled out subsidies through e-wallets in a move aimed at curbing misappropriation.
“We are going to issue subsidies on digital platforms to stop brokers who have been giving us challenges in delivery,” said President Ruto. The government piloted the e-voucher program in 2020 for smallholder farmers in certain counties only. These farmers at the time received money through their mobile phones for the purchase of firm inputs from licensed agricultural veterinarians.
The government subsidized fertilizer in April when the price reached an all-time high of Ksh.6, 500 for a 50-kilogram bag. However, the initiative was ineffective because of a product shortage in the market, which caused some farmers to sow without the supplement.
