For Lawrence Wabuko, a farmer in Butere, Kakamega County, destiny is rooted firmly in the soil of his farm.
In a media interview, Wabuko says farmers like him in the region have struggled with average harvests because they lacked enough fertilizer and other farm inputs. Despite being an agricultural bedrock in Kenya’s food production, Kakamega farmers were forced to settle for less because the inputs were not affordable.
But the situation is gradually changing after the introduction of subsidized fertilizer, which he says has almost halved the initial cost.
Wabuko says the cost of fertilizer was previously a major challenge for farmers, particularly those with larger farms who needed several bags to cover their land adequately. He says the fertilizer subsidy program introduced in 2022 has eased the burden and allowed farmers to invest more in fertilizer.
Government Fertilizer Price Cuts Farm Costs
According to Wabuko, a 50kg bag of urea fertilizer previously cost close to KSh6,000 in agrovet shops, making it difficult for farmers to buy enough fertilizer for their entire farms.
With government fertilizer now available at about KSh2,500 per bag, he says farmers can get enough fertilizer with the same amount of money.
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According to Wabuko, money that previously bought one bag can now purchase two bags. This has allowed farmers to apply fertilizer to a larger portion of their farms rather than limiting application to selected areas because of high costs.
The lower price is part of the government’s efforts to make agricultural inputs more affordable to farmers. Kenya has used subsidized fertilizer to increase agricultural productivity and improve food security, using government distribution channels to provide fertilizer to farmers at reduced prices.
Affordable fertilizer has helped smallholder farmers, who often have limited resources to buy inputs before planting seasons. Lower input costs allow farmers to allocate more money to other needs, including seeds, labor, and land preparation.
Fertilizer Supports Crops in Acidic Soils
Wabuko says access to affordable fertilizer has also helped farmers in Butere address the challenges posed by the soil conditions.
He says the soils in the area are acidic and require fertilizer for farmers to achieve good crop performance and better harvests.
Soil acidity is an agricultural challenge that has affected several parts of Western Kenya. Studies have also examined the combined use of lime and phosphorus fertilizer in Western Kenya, with findings showing that managing soil acidity can improve maize production.
Acidic soils can reduce the availability of essential nutrients to crops, so farmers may need appropriate soil-management measures and fertilizer application to support crop growth. Research in Western Kenya has also examined the use of agricultural lime and phosphorus to address soil acidity and improve maize production.
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Butere Farmers Seek More Fertilizer Depots
While welcoming the lower prices, Wabuko says farmers still struggle to access fertilizer when supplies are concentrated at a limited number of distribution centers.
He wants the government to ensure adequate stocks are delivered to cereals board facilities and, where possible, establish or supply distribution points at the sub-county level.
Wabuko says farmers from Butere should not have to travel long distances to Kakamega to look for fertilizer. Such travel increases the cost of obtaining the input and can reduce the benefit farmers get from the government’s lower prices.
He also points to congestion at distribution centers when many farmers arrive at the same time to purchase fertilizer.
For Wabuko, ensuring fertilizer is available closer to farming communities would complement the price reduction by making the subsidized input easier to access. He says reliable supplies at local distribution points would let farmers get fertilizer on time and avoid unnecessary travel and congestion.
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