West Pokot: Residents of West Pokot County have expressed immense joy following the national government’s early distribution of fertilizers for use during the season of long rains. The much-awaited fertilizer delivery, usually distributed during planting time, has been welcomed by farmers who are hoping for a better harvest.
According to Kenya News Agency, the National Cereal and Produce Board (NCPB) Communications Officer Titus Mayo stated that the fertilizers supplied were sufficient for the farmers. “The early delivery is a major boost for farmers in this region. The fertilizers will be available until the end of the long rains. We are confident that farmers will achieve better yields this year,” said Mayo. He explained that the government would distribute top-dressing fertilizers to ensure continued support throughout the growing season.
Mayo further reassured farmers that they would receive their allocation without fear of any shortages provided that they were properly registered. “There is no need for concern. As long as farmers are registered, they will receive their fertilizers on time,” he added.
While farmers welcomed the early delivery, some expressed concerns based on past experiences. “We hope this fertilizer is better than last year’s because last year’s fertilizer had a mixture of sand and stones, which affected our crops. We hope this one will be of good quality and help our plants grow well,” they said. The timely delivery of the fertilizers has brought relief to many farmers, allowing them to prepare their land and ensure their crops have the necessary nutrients to thrive during the crucial planting season.
“This is a welcome move, and it gives us enough time to apply fertilizers and prepare our land without the usual rush. We hope this will help improve our harvests this year,” said the farmers. They, however, appealed to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to establish additional distribution centers at the locational level to ease access to fertilizers. “Areas such as Sigor and Kacheliba are very far from Kapenguria town, which means extra costs to farmers who want to access the fertilizer. We wish that the management considers having the far-flung areas supplied with the fertilizer close to them,” they requested.
The farmers also want the supply to be steady and continuous until the planting season commences so that they could buy the fertilizer at their own convenient time.