Relief for Farmers as Fertiliser Price Falls to KSh2,000, Maize Seed Cost Halved

The government has reduced the price of subsidised fertiliser by KSh500 and cut the price of certified maize seed by 50% to cushion farmers from drought losses and lower the cost of planting.

In a statement on August 24, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced that the government will sell a 50kg bag of subsidised fertiliser at Ksh 2,000, down from Ksh 2,500.

The government will also subsidise 50% of the cost of certified maize seed, reducing the price from Ksh 300 per kilogramme to Ksh 150.

Under the new prices, farmers will pay KSh300 for a 2kg pack of maize seed, down from KSh600, while a 10kg pack will cost Ksh 1,500, down from Ksh 3,000.

“This means a 2kg pack of maize seed will cost Ksh 300 instead of Ksh 600; a 10kg pack will cost Ksh 1,500 instead of Ksh 3,000,” Kagwe stated.

Kagwe explained that the maize seed programme is expected to involve around 40 million Kgs and is valued at an estimated Government support of Ksh 6 billion.

The government said farmers will get access to the subsidised fertilizer and maize seed through designated distribution channels as the intervention is being rolled out.

Kagwe said the steps are targeted at reducing production costs, preserving achievements in food production and bolstering food security as farmers grapple with drought and shifting weather conditions.

The new measure is expected to take effect from September.

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The Kenyan Government’s Fertilizer Subsidy Program

The latest fertiliser price reduction is part of the government’s fertiliser subsidy programme, which it launched in 2022.

According to Kagwe, about 1.98 million farmers have accessed approximately 33.55 million 50kg bags of subsidised fertiliser through the programme, with the government providing support worth about Ksh 78.79 billion.

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Climate-smart Agriculture and Water Management to Ensure Farmer Resilience

Kagwe added that the government would keep investing in irrigation, water harvesting and climate-smart interventions to build resilience among farmers.

“At the heart of this intervention is a simple principle: a farmer who has lost a crop to drought must not also lose the ability to plant the next crop because fertilizer and seed are beyond reach,” Kagwe stated.

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Farmers are set for cheaper planting as the government cuts fertilizer and maize seed prices in a fresh relief measure. Credits PCS