Farmers preparing for the October rains will pay less for subsidised maize seeds and fertiliser following new measures announced by President William Ruto.
The changes are intended to lower the cost of farm inputs and encourage farmers to increase food production after poor performance of the May-August long rains in several agricultural regions.
Here is what the new measures mean for farmers.
What has changed?
From next month, the government will subsidise the cost of maize seeds by 50 per cent.
The price of subsidised fertiliser will also be reduced by Ksh500, bringing the cost of a 50-kilogramme bag down from Ksh2,500 to Ksh2,000.
Ruto announced the measures during a church service at AIC Makutano in Taveta Constituency, Taita-Taveta County, on Sunday.
The President said the reductions are aimed at helping farmers take advantage of the rains expected from October.
Why is the government reducing input prices?
The government says the measures are partly a response to crop failures caused by poor rains during the May-August season.
Agricultural areas, including parts of the North Rift, experienced inadequate rainfall, affecting crop production and putting additional pressure on food supplies.
By lowering the cost of seeds and fertiliser, the government hopes more farmers will be able to plant when the October rains begin.
The cheaper inputs are also expected to support food production and help reduce the financial burden on farmers.
When will the new prices take effect?
The 50 per cent maize seed subsidy and the additional Ksh500 fertiliser reduction will take effect from next month, according to the President.
Farmers will therefore be able to access the reduced prices as they prepare for the next planting season.
For fertiliser, a farmer buying a 50kg subsidised bag will pay Ksh2,000 instead of Ksh2,500, representing a Ksh500 reduction per bag.
The saving on maize seeds will depend on the existing price of the particular subsidised seed package, but the government says the cost will be cut by half.
For farmers buying several bags of fertiliser and seed for larger farms, the reductions could translate into significant savings during the planting season.
What does the subsidy mean for food production?
The government expects cheaper farm inputs to encourage more farmers to plant and increase the amount of food produced during the coming season.
The move comes as Kenya continues to address concerns over food security following poor rainfall in some of the country’s key agricultural regions.
Ruto urged farmers to take advantage of the expected October rains rather than allowing the season to pass without planting.
Other measures announced by Ruto
The President made several other announcements during his visit to Taita-Taveta County.
He said the government had released Ksh18 billion in third-term capitation funds to support the continuation of learning in schools.
On land ownership, he announced plans to issue 500,000 title deeds to residents in the Coast region, including 45,000 in Taita-Taveta County.
The government also plans to invest Ksh17 billion in Affordable Housing Programme projects in the county.
What about health services?
Ruto said 245,000 people, representing about 73 per cent of Taita-Taveta’s estimated population of 340,000, had registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA).
He also said health facilities in the county had received Ksh950 million over the past one and a half years for services provided to residents.
Taveta Hospital is also set to be upgraded from Level 3 to Level 4 and equipped with modern medical equipment under the National Equipment Services Programme.
What should farmers do?
Farmers planning to plant maize should monitor announcements from the government and relevant agricultural agencies on how and where to access the subsidised seeds and fertiliser.
The government is encouraging farmers to prepare early so they can take advantage of the October rains.
The success of the programme will ultimately depend on the timely availability of the subsidised inputs and whether farmers can access them before or at the beginning of the planting season.
