The government of Kenya is working on modalities to help farmers access affordable fertiliser and livestock feeds to enhance production and improve earnings.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya made the announcement while noting that high costs of inputs had burdened farmers and demoralised them from expanding their ventures in agricultural sub-sectors.
He further disclosed that the government has allowed animal feed manufacturers to import duty-free raw materials that will help lower the cost of feeds for farmers. A waiver on import duty for yellow maize for the processing of livestock feeds, the CS said, will run for one year.
Innovative measures
He expressed optimism that agriculture stakeholders will also come up with other innovative measures to further lower the cost of feeds. Munya stated that only livestock feed manufactures will be allowed to import yellow maize to lock out cartels bent on taking advantage to import cheaper white maize, which would cause unfavourable competition with local produce.
The CS noted that dependency on raw materials for animal feeds from other countries is a big hurdle since manufacturers dictate prices depending on market forces, which is beyond the government’s control.
Munya also welcomed private investors who wish to grow raw materials to lease land from the government at better rates as a way of addressing the challenge of raw materials for feeds. The government, is establishing a board that will regulate and inspect the quality of inputs including fertiliser and feeds.
“We want farmers to access high-quality inputs and achieve better yields. This will be possible with a board in place that will regulate the sub-sectors. We do not have raw materials for fertiliser manufacturing and so, when the world prices change, we are also affected and especially now when the shilling has dropped against the dollar,” he said.
