Governors want fertiliser grants sent to counties
By Reuben Mwambingu, October 29, 2024Governors now want money meant for government subsidised fertiliser be channeled directly as grants to counties, to allow the devolved units separately procure farm inputs that march with their soil.
Led by Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki, the governors are of the view that the assertion that fertiliser can be one size fits all for all parts of Kenya is a deceptive notion since crops production vary geographically and therefore one type fertilisers cannot be used uniformly across the country.
“The truth is we all know what transpired in the previous procurement of fertilizer. Farmers across the country claimed they were given a raw deal resulting in some people being sent parking. Kenyans understand that the fertilizer was mixed with some foreign bodies and the procurement did not go as planned. So we have said two things about fertilizer. One we cannot have fertiliser that is one size fits all for every part of Kenya. There are people usually who do crops that are different from what the fertilizer is meant for the maize growing counties. There are counties that do potatoes, others doing sorghum and different things. This is why we want every county to be given its separate money to buy fertilizer,” Governor Njuki declared.
Consultative meeting
The Tharaka Nithi Governor spoke in a separate press briefing on the sidelines of a Consultative Meeting between the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and the Council of Governors to discuss Key Agricultural Sector Issues at a Mombasa Hotel.
“The money meant for fertilisers does not come from somewhere else in Kenya. It comes from the taxpayer’s money and the same money can be given to counties to buy fertilisers that fit their soil because soils are different in different counties. Some are already over exhausted and acidic and therefore one can buy lime to neutralize the soil in those same monies,” Njuki said, adding that the timing of the distribution of fertilisers has also been a problem because seasons differ in some counties.
While acknowledging agriculture as a devolved function, Council of Governors Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi, in a separate press briefing said there is need for ample consultation and collaboration between both levels of government to ensure that both parties play their roles as per the constitutional framework.
“The roles are very clear in a constitutional framework that the national government does policy and the counties do the operational implementation with respect to devolved functions. If we don’t talk to each other then we will have policies that are not speaking to what is being done practically on the ground,” said Abdullahi -the incoming COG Chair who is also the Wajir Governor.
Fertiliser resources
Channeling fertiliser resources to counties separately will enable the counties plan according to their rainy season, need and crop thereby giving room for targeted utilization of resources.
“Agriculture is devolved. Instead of buying fertilizers and telling counties to do last mile distribution from your local stores, that money should be given to counties in the form of grants. We have been doing this last mile distribution and farmers are telling us they don’t need that type of fertilizer, they need another type. They have already told you in their CIDPs and public participation and you are there giving them fertiliser that was utilized in Kitale and yet they are not planting maize you are planting potatoes. We want fertiliser for coffee, why are you giving us fertiliser for planting maize? We want fertilizer for what we are planting and that is the idea of listening to what mwananchi is saying,” he said.
At the same time the governors said Kenya is well endowed with enough nuts to produce its own ample edible oil instead of importing the product. They argued that the sunflower seeds that were given out as a grant to Kenya last year are still lying in the National Cereals and Produce Board stores across the country due to unnecessary conditions given to farmers that they must collect fertilizer for them to be given seeds. The governors noted that sunflower seeds are being used as a bait to force fertilisers down the throats of farmers.
“Suppose you want to plant a crop that doesn’t require fertilizer, why have the seeds just stay there to be used as bait? This idea of sugar coating the ministry is doing has to stop. Let us give the counties what belongs to them because the resources belong to the people of Kenya. If agriculture is devolved according to schedule four, give the resources to the devolved units and let them be accountable,” said Njuki.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja said the Government is currently seeking to ensure food and nutrition security in the country through value chain approach to budgeting and has committed to support key value chains in agriculture such as dairy, leather, meat, edible oils, tea, rice and cotton.