Kenyan tea farmers are set to receive a major boost after the government announced the rollout of subsidized tea fertiliser ahead of the short rains.
In a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) was given a new directive on the new fertilizer retail prices ahead of the anticipated short rains.
According to the government, KTDA had imported upward of 86,988 metric tons of fertiliser, which would be distributed to farmers across the country.
"The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has given firm instructions to KTDA that in line with the GOK policy on subsidised fertiliser, the tea fertiliser should be sold at Ksh2,500 per 50kg bag," the statement, signed by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Andrew Mwihia Karanja, read.
The subsidy on fertiliser is part of the government's greater effort to support small-scale tea farmers by ensuring they benefit from the government's subsidy program.
This latest move by the government came just days after nationwide outrage from team farmers following KTDA's announcement that there would be a hike in tea fertiliser prices.
A notice from the KTDA dated October 9, 2024, left farmers in distress as it was announced that 50kg of fertiliser would go for Ksh3,400, which was contrary to the standard price of Ksh2,500 as per the subsidy program. The fee was to be deducted from farmers’ final bonus payments, due to be released this week.
Over 700,000 small-scale farmers who heavily depend on the subsidised fertiliser, resisted the new prices since it would directly affect crop productivity and farmers' earnings, prompting the government to intervene.
The bigger picture: In the latest directive, the government announced there were collaborations with the National Treasury, the KTDA, and other agencies to ensure subsidy refunds owed to KTDA are realised.
If everything goes according to the government's plan, Ksh2 billion will be availed to KTDA in the 2024/2025 financial year for the fertiliser subsidy program, according to Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh. The PS had previously directed KTDA to comply with the government's directive since funds were being availed for the subsidy program.
Tea farming has always been an integral part of Kenya's agricultural sector, and this makes the availability of tea fertiliser a non-negotiable.
Since fertiliser helps improve tea quality and boost overall productivity, the government has grown wary of this fact in recent years, hence the intervention to give small-scale farmers a lifeline to remain afloat economically while still producing high-quality tea.
