The National Cereal and Produce Board (NCPB) has initiated the process of compensating farmers who received substandard fertilizer under the government subsidy program.
Titus Maiyo in a statement representing NCPB managing director on April 23, 2024, stated that the compensation is in line with a recent directive given by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.
“All farmers who have utilized the fertilizer and NCPB has verified that they procured from their stores will be issued with an equivalent amount of top-dressing fertilizer.
“The Board has distributed three million bags of planting and 300,000 bags of topdressing fertilizer for the 2024 long rains season to registered farmers,” read part of the statement.
According to the director, affected farmers are expected to lodge formal complaints by first filling a Claim Declaration Form.
NCPB Compensation
Farmers will further be expected to present their original National Identification Cards (IDs) and proof of purchase.
The said sub-standard fertilizers from KEL were labeled as NPK 10:25:10, Kelphos Plus, and Kelphos Gold.
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Meanwhile, the board has urged for the immediate return of the product by farmers who may have not yet utilized it to NCPB stores where they will be issued with an equivalent amount of the planting fertilizer.
Maiyo further assured that the board will also issue farmers who may have utilized the fertilizers with an equivalent amount of top-dressing fertilizer.
“Farmers are continuing to receive e-voucher messages for top-dressing fertilizer and are encouraged to visit their nearest NCPB depot or selling center to purchase quality fertilizers under the Government Subsidy Programme,” the statement added.
This comes a week after the company involved in the distribution of the product, announced that it would compensate any farmer who raised a complaint of receiving the alleged substandard fertilizer.
KEL Company made the announcement after it had conducted thorough investigation and analysis of the presented batch.
Ruto Order
President William Ruto while addressing the matter had also ordered for compensation of farmers.
The Head of State while speaking during the commissioning of Cemtech Limited Clinker Plant in West Pokot further assured farmers that the government has enough fertilizer for them.
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“Every farmer will get the correct fertilizer. Those few people who want to take advantage of food production, the company that was involved, should compensate farmers who bought fake fertilizer and they should be given new fertilizers free of charge,” he said.
According to Ruto, the government would further reduce fertilizer prices to benefit farmers.
Earlier, the President while visiting to Eldoret NCPB Depot directed the management of NCPB across the country to speed up the distribution of subsidized fertilizer.
He also said that fraudsters selling the fake product would be prosecuted while issuing a stern warning to the individuals involved.
At least eight senior officials at the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) have been suspended over the fake fertilizer fiasco.
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