Last month the government released 5.7 billion shillings to subsidies the prices of fertilizer after the price jump recorded early this year. The fertilizer subsidy fund has lowered fertilizer costs for farmers and has doubled the cap to 40 bags per farmer.

Farmers have experienced price hikes since the Ukraine-Russian conflict as well as the effects of the global COVID pandemic in 2020. Currently the price of fertilizer has been subsidized to the highest cost of fertilizer now at 3000 shillings down from 4,900 shillings and the cheapest brand CAN fertilizer going for 1,950 down from 3,900.

The subsidy is aimed at reducing farming inputs for the farmer on the ground. Speaking at the launch of a Coffee Taskforce Report Launch, CS Peter Munya said, “From the current 20, I have doubled it so that farmers can get more fertilizer that they need for the planting season and also the top dressing season.” He also assured farmers that transportation challenges because of the recent fuel shortage and price hike have been sorted out and that fertilizer distribution is now in place countrywide.