The skyrocketing prices of fertilizer among other farm inputs across the country was on the blame for poor harvests experienced in the last couple of years with prices of maize flour rising to the extent that a number of households could not afford to purchase.
The increase in prices of farm inputs prevented many farmers from engaging in farming, this is according to the Archbishop African Divine Church International Timothy Musakali. He however called upon President elect William Ruto through the Ministry of Agriculture to come up with measures that would reduce the cost of farming and improve food production in the country.
Over the years agricultural sector has been considered a key sector, largely contributing to the economic growth of this nation hence the government having a role to put in place measures that will reduce the cost of farming by streamlining and enhancing enough supply of subsidized fertilizer to the farmers.
Small scale farmers are said to have adversely been affected by the high prices of fertilizer as the church leader asks the government to come up with an initiative that will reduce the quantity of subsidized fertilizer to bare minimum and make it more affordable to the poor farmers than wealthy ones, who can cheaply afford it at any amount.
Moses Wetangula, Speaker of the National Assembly with ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi have been asked to work in hand with President elect William Ruto and see into it that Western region gets more industries and factories in the quest to create more job opportunities for the locals in Western, besides boosting economic growth of the region.
Musakali however noted that concentrating and complaining over the issues of Mumias Sugar company and Pan paper will do no good to the region without coming up with measures that will enable Western region to have more factories and industries.
By Otindo Aggrey.
