Farmers in Trans Nzoia find themselves at the Kitale NCPB depot searching for government-subsidized fertilizer at a time when they should be tending to their farms in preparation for planting season.
Even though they have been waiting in line for hours on end, some people are not very hopeful because they have come here day after day just to return home broke and having to make up for the money they lost on their travel expenses.
Allan Mwangi, a farmer in Cherangany stated; “Tungependa serikali ifanye kazi nzuri, mbolea ipelekwa huko kwa wards badala ya kukuja hapa na ata baada ya kukuja hakuna kitu unapata.”
another farmer in Trans-Nzoia, Ronald Meja added; “tunaomba serikali ilete mbolea ya kutosha, wakati imefika na watu wengine mashamba ni ya maji na huenda tukakosa kitu.”
The delays are not amusing to the farmers, who worry that since they are already behind schedule with planting, the consequences could be disastrous.
“Mimi ni number 5000 na shangaa nitafikiwa saa ngapi juu ya wananiambia sijui wako number mia 300 ingine sijui 900 sasa tunashangaa ama tutapata mbolea mwaka huu ama tutalima kweli,” noted farmer Elizabeth Wanjiru.
Although more over 16,000 people registered to get fertilizer from the Kitale deport, less than 20% of farmers actually received this crucial agricultural resource.
The Ministry of Agriculture reports that more than 5.5 million farmers have enrolled to get the subsidized fertilizer.
