Busia Deputy Governor Arthur Odera and Bukhayo North Walatsi ward representative Gaddy Jakaa clashed on Friday, October 14, 2022, after claims emerged that subsidized fertilizer meant for farmers in the county was being sold in Uganda.

Odera refuted the claims urging farmers to opt for the subsidized fertilizer which is still at the Malaba National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot.

He was reacting to Jakaa’s accusations that the county government had failed to protect farmers, even as unscrupulous dealers were cheaply buying and selling subsidized fertilizer at higher prices in Uganda.

“650 bags of fertilizer were delivered to the Malaba NCPB depot the other day. If we would have had any complaints that there were farmers who went to the depot and did not get fertilizer that would have been a genuine concern,” Odera stated.

He added: “If anything happens, let me know because we want to support our farmers. The national government introduced a subsidy which made fertilizer affordable and we want all our farmers who are in need of fertilizer to have access to it. It is important to say the truth so that everyone understands. No subsidized fertilizer is being sold in Uganda,” he reiterated.

The leaders were speaking at Korisai village in Teso North Sub County during the burial of Sarah Njuguna, wife to Malaba North Member of County Assembly (MCA) Patrick Omanyala.

Fertilizer sold in Uganda

Earlier, Jakaa had earlier told mourners that it was unfair for the county government to remain quiet while farmers were struggling to acquire high-cost fertilizer sold in agro vets despite the government floating a subsidy that scaled-down fertilizer prices to Ksh3,500 for a 50kg bag.

“Fertilizer was delivered at the Malaba NCPB depot. However, we have information that the same fertilizer which is supposed to benefit our farmers is being sold in Uganda. We also have information
that some of it is being sold in Bungoma yet farmers in Busia are suffering. Our farmers have no access to subsidized fertilizer,” Jakaa stated.

“I want the government to intervene and ensure that the fertilizer that is delivered in Malaba benefits local farmers even if it means giving out one sack to every farmer,” he added.

Cheap fertilizer

During his inauguration in September, President William Ruto said as part of the government’s intervention to address the high cost of living, he would facilitate the availability and affordability of
fertilizer and good quality seeds.

He directed that 1.4 million bags of fertilizer be availed to farmers at a subsidized price of Ksh3,500 per 50kg bag down from the previous Ksh6,500 per 50kg bag.

As a follow-up to the directive, Agriculture Principal Secretary Francis Owino on September 20 announced that a 50kg bag of DAP fertilizer would sell at Ksh3,500, CAN at Ksh2,875, Urea at Ksh3,500, NPK at Ksh3,275, MOP at Ksh1,775 and Sulphate of Ammonia at Ksh2,220.

He noted that the fertilizer will be available at NCPB depots and sub-depots countrywide and an individual farmer will strictly be entitled to a maximum of 100 bags of 50kg.