The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has ordered the destruction of 27,518 bags of expired fertilizer.
This decision, announced by Cabinet Secretary Sen. Mutahi Kagwe on March 13, 2025, according to the ministry’s statement highlights the government’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of agricultural supplies.
The fertilizer, which was held in various National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) stores across the country, had exceeded its shelf life, rendering it unsuitable for use.
The fertilizer in question was a consignment of Sulphate of Ammonia (21%), which had been delivered to NCPB by Fine Tech Edge Ltd between December 27, 2024, and January 6, 2025. Before its acceptance, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) conducted tests to ensure the fertilizer met the necessary quality requirements. However, despite its compliance with standard regulations, the fertilizer had a short shelf life that was set to expire on February 28, 2025.
NCPB, upon realizing the limited shelf life, alerted the supplier and requested fertilizer with a longer expiration period. Given that the entire consignment was unlikely to be sold by the end of February, the unsold stock remained in storage. As per standard procedures, unsold expired fertilizer could not be released into the market to avoid potential harm to farmers and the environment. Consequently, on February 27, 2025, NCPB issued a sale stoppage order for the fertilizer. Subsequently, KEBS seized the expired stock on March 4, 2025, and ensured no further movement of the product until its safe destruction.
The destruction of the fertilizer will be supervised by KEBS to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations. Since the fertilizer was supplied on a consignment basis, the financial burden of the loss falls on Fine Tech Edge Ltd, the supplier, rather than the government. This measure reinforces the government’s resolve to protect farmers from ineffective agricultural inputs while holding suppliers accountable for the quality of their products.
The decision to destroy the expired fertilizer according to the ministry aligns with Kenya’s agricultural policy which prioritizes food security, environmental sustainability, and public health and that by preventing the sale of expired fertilizer, the government aims at safeguarding crop productivity and ensuring that farmers have access to high-quality farm inputs, underscoring the importance of stringent regulatory oversight in the agricultural sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with KEBS and NCPB, has demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring that substandard products do not reach farmers and for the government to protect and promote sustainable agricultural practices that contribute to national food security.
