Cereal farmers will start buying subsidised farm input from importers through the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya said on Friday.

Speaking during a stakeholders meeting at the NCPB depot in Eldoret, Munya said that farmers will access the subsidized fertilizer at Sh2,300 per 50kg across the country.

He said the government will longer engage in direct sourcing of the multi-billion shillings commodity in a move to dismantle cartels who have been benefiting from the programme at the expense of genuine farmers.

“The government will no longer import subsidised fertilizer and instead farmers will be access the commodity at NCPB depots at Sh2,300 per 50kg across the country.

He accused the cartels of frustrating the subsidized fertilizer scheme that was introduced by the government to help farmers access the commodity at affordable rate during planting season.

Munya was accompanied by Agriculture Cabinet Administrative Secretary Linah Jebii Chebii Kilimo, NCPB chairman Mutea Iringo, Uasin Gishu Senator Margaret Kamar, Moiben MP Sila Tiren and former Eldoret North MP Jesse Mais among other leaders.

He said the e-voucher for subsidised fertilizer was still being piloted in selected maize and wheat growing counties ahead of the roll-out of the programme next year.

“The e-voucher system has already been approved by the cabinet and it will be rolled out across the country next year for the benefit of the maize and wheat farmers,” assured Munya.

The CS said that the new system will enable the farmers to access subsidised fertilizer without any hitch as it was used to happen in the past during planting season.

He at the same time announced that the Strategic Food Reserve has been disbanded and will instead be a department within the NCPB due to frequent infighting.

“The SFR will now be department within the NCPB to avoid the infighting that has been witnessed between the two state bodies over the issue of payments for purchase of produce from farmers.