Ruto warns middlemen over fertilizer misuse
Deputy President William Ruto has warned against middlemen buying subsidized fertilizer and repackaging them for sale to farmers at a slightly higher price.
Ruto said in the recent years cartels were buying the subsidized fertilizer from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB, and then repackaging them and selling to unsuspecting farmers, who suffer the most.
He said already 700,000 bags of the fertilizer had been distributed and a further 1.3 million bags were on the way and would be delivered to the farmers.
Speaking during an impromptu visit at the Bungoma NCPB on Saturday afternoon the Deputy President said those involved in the activities will face stern action.
“We want to send a stern warning to those who buy our subsidized fertilizer and sell them to the public. They should know the government will take stern action against them, we know very well that the farmers will suffer most and yet the government has given out subsidized fertilizer to make sure we get more yields” said Ruto.
He further said that the intention of the government was to increase agricultural productivity by providing subsidized farm inputs and said the middlemen would curtail the process.
He said the farmers were buying the inputs at Sh. 1,800 per bag and as the government was paying the deficit and the middlemen and unprincipled dealers should not take advantage and sell them at a higher price.
See also, Police seize 4,000 bags of forged fertilizer.
Ruto said the government was spending Sh. 3.2 billion to facilitate the purchase of fertilizer to farmers in the country.
He called on the county governments to ensure that the inputs are delivered to the farmers.
“We are cooperating with the county governments to ensure that the farmers in the rural areas receive these inputs,” said Ruto.
He said Bungoma County had done exceptionally well by delivering 400 bags of fertilizer to vulnerable groups in every ward in the county, which he said he was sure the terms will be followed so that the fertilizer gets into hands that expects most.
He said farmers who could not afford the fertilizer should be given the first priority during the distribution.
