Kagwe: 50kg fertiliser bag to cost Ksh2,000

Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe has announced that a 50kg bag of subsidised fertiliser will cost Ksh2,000 starting next month, a decrease from its previous price of Ksh2,500. The reduction comes as the government aims to support farmers who have suffered losses due to the drought, according to a statement posted on the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development's official X account on Monday, August 24.

The price cut represents a Ksh500 reduction, bringing the government-sold fertiliser down to Ksh2,000 per 50kg bag, down from the previous Ksh2,500. President William Ruto earlier announced that the government would lower the price of subsidised fertiliser by Ksh500 in anticipation of the short rains. This move, made on Sunday, August 23 during a speech at AIC Makutano Church in Taita Taveta County, is part of the government's efforts to lower farmers' production costs, protect agricultural output gains, and support food security amid drought and changing weather patterns.

The government will also subsidize 50% of the cost of certified maize seed, reducing the price from Ksh300 to Ksh150 per kilogramme. A 2kg pack will now cost Ksh300, down from Ksh600, while a 10kg pack will be priced at Ksh1,500, down from Ksh3,000. The maize seed subsidy covers approximately 40 million kilogrammes of certified seed, with the government expected to spend about Ksh6 billion in support.

Since 2022, the government has distributed around 33.55 million 50kg bags of subsidised fertiliser to approximately 1.98 million farmers, spending Ksh78.79 billion on the fertiliser subsidy program. The latest reduction means farmers will save Ksh500 for every 50kg bag of fertiliser they purchase. The government plans to continue investing in irrigation, water harvesting, and other climate-smart measures to assist farmers in dealing with drought.

These measures aim to encourage farmers to plant during the upcoming short rains, thereby increasing food production. The new fertiliser and maize seed prices are set to take effect from September.