"Farmers to recover": Govt sets new prices of fertiliser, maize seeds per kg

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- The government announced a new subsidy reducing the price of a 50kg bag of fertiliser from KSh 2,500 to KSh 2,000

- Certified maize seed prices will drop by 50%, with the government covering half the cost per kilogram for farmers

- Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe said the intervention targets roughly 40 million kilogrammes of maize seed worth KSh 6 billion

The Kenyan government has announced a further round of agricultural subsidies, cutting the price of subsidised fertiliser and halving the cost of certified maize seed to help farmers recover from drought-related losses.

Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe made the announcement, stating that a 50kg bag of subsidised fertiliser would now retail at KSh 2,000, down from the previous price of KSh 2,500.

At the same time, the government will absorb 50% of the cost of certified maize seed, reducing the farmer's price from KSh 300 to KSh 150 per kilogramme.

What are the new maize seed prices?

The revised pricing means a 2kg pack of maize seed will cost KSh 300 instead of KSh 600, while a 10kg pack will be available at KSh 1,500, down from KSh 3,000.

The maize seed subsidy is designed to cover approximately 40 million kilogrammes, representing a government outlay of roughly KSh 6 billion.

CS Kagwe said the measures were intended to lower the cost of production for farmers, protect output gains already achieved, and reinforce national food security in the face of drought and shifting weather conditions.

"The Government will continue supporting farmers to recover from drought, lower their cost of production and return to their farms, while investing in irrigation, water harvesting and other climate-smart interventions to strengthen Kenya's resilience to changing weather patterns," Kagwe said.

Government's Broader Agricultural Support

The announcement builds on a sustained fertiliser subsidy programme that has been running since 2022. Over that period, approximately 33.55 million 50kg bags of subsidised fertiliser have been distributed to around 1.98 million farmers, with total government support amounting to roughly KSh 78.79 billion.

Beyond the pricing interventions, the government said it would continue investing in irrigation infrastructure, water harvesting systems, and other climate-smart approaches to build long-term resilience for farmers and reduce their vulnerability to drought seasons.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.