Kenya’s Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary, Mithika Linturi, revealed on Wednesday that the government of Algeria has contributed 16,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer to Kenya.
While receiving the shipment in Mombasa, CS Linturi expressed gratitude, emphasizing the timely donation in line with the country’s cropping calendar.
Linturi highlighted the significant fertilizer requirement, indicating that Kenya needs approximately 900,000 metric tonnes of assorted fertilizer annually to support adequate food production.
He assured that through his ministry, the government is committed to ensuring smallholder farmers have access to subsidized fertilizer, helping alleviate the challenges posed by high production costs.
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In addition to the Algerian donation, Linturi disclosed the government’s plans to acquire 630,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer this year, consisting of 50% basal and 50% topdressing.
This strategic investment is intended to boost productivity in key crop value chains such as edible oils, rice, cotton, tea, and leather.
Linturi underlined the role of fertilizer as a critical component in achieving productivity goals for prioritized crop value chains.
In the 2023-2024 financial year, he stated that the ministry’s objective is to enable farmers to access these fertilizers to double their production, contributing to enhanced food and nutrition security.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to the agricultural sector, Linturi mentioned the mapping and registration of 6.4 million farmers, all poised to benefit from subsidized fertilizer.
He reiterated the administration’s dedication, led by President William Ruto, to revamp agriculture to increase overall food production, reduce imports, and boost exports.
As part of the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), Linturi emphasized the prioritization of specific value chains believed to be most effective in realizing food security and supporting economic growth.
The comprehensive mapping also includes various value chain actors, such as agro-input dealers, aggregators, processors, extension service providers, marketing centers, and transporters.
Algerian Ambassador to Kenya, Mahi Boumediene, praised the collaboration, noting that such initiatives would strengthen ties between the two countries.