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More than 100,000 farmers in the North Rift have been registered under the electronic voucher fertiliser subsidy programme as farmers continue to jam National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots in the region to get the commodity.

 Through the voucher system, farmers are allowed to access the subsidised fertiliser within seven days after receiving an SMS alert.

 Uasin Gishu Agriculture, Agri-Business, Livestock and Fisheries County Executive Committee member Edward Sawe yesterday said more than 200,000 bags of fertiliser have already been picked.

“We want to assure farmers all the NCPB stores across the county are well-stocked with the subsidised fertilisers. We ask those who are yet to redeem them to do so ahead of the planting season,” said Sawe.

He said the county is working with NCPB and the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) to finalise a plan that will allow the subsidised fertiliser to be delivered at the stores.

 “We’re working on ensuring the stores have sufficient security and then we will deploy NCPB officials and those from the county to oversee the distribution,” said Sawe.

 The county has four stores, each with a capacity to hold up to 60,000 bags of fertiliser.

 Uasin Gishu county is projecting at least 300,000 acres of land will be under maize this coming planting season.

North Rift NCPB regional manager Gilbert Rotich yesterday assured farmers in the region there is enough supply to cover the next planting season.

“All NCPB depots in the North Rift have been stocked with the fertiliser to save farmers from incurring extra costs of transporting the farm input from the Eldoret main depot,” said Sawe.

According to the official, the region has received 15,000 bags of subsidised fertiliser in Kitale (Trans Nzoia) and another 2,000 each at Meteitei and Mosoriot in Nandi county.

“The subsidised fertiliser is of good quality as it has been imported from two reputable companies. We have received two varieties suited for the climate of this region namely Yara micro-planting and Kyno maize,” explained Rotich.

 Through the voucher system, farmers are notified of the number of bags they qualify for with a unique code ensuring that only genuine farmers benefit in a bid to lock out unscrupulous traders.