KENYA – Kenya has received 16,000 metric tonnes (MT) of urea fertilizer from Algeria, a timely donation as the country enters its cropping period.
The donation was received at the Grain Bulk Handling Ltd facilities at the Port of Mombasa by Mithuka Linturi, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture.
“As a country, we are humbled to receive this kind gesture from the Algerian government, with whom we have valuable diplomatic relations,” Linturi said.
The donation comes at a critical time for Kenya, as the country is facing a shortage of fertiliser. According to Linturi, Kenya requires 900,000 MT of assorted fertiliser to adequately produce its food.
“The fertiliser consignment from Algeria will greatly supplement our efforts in increasing agricultural production and productivity through affordable inputs to farmers as we strive to reduce food prices,” he said.
In the current financial year, 2023-2024, Linturi said that the government is planning to acquire 630,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer comprising of 50% basal and 50% topdressing.
It is envisaged that the farmers who will access these fertilizers will be able to double their production in order to enhance the attainment of food and nutrition security.
CS Linturi pointed out that the government has mapped and registered 6.4 million farmers who are expected to benefit from the subsidized fertilizer.
“To serve the farmers better, we have mapped and registered 6.4 million farmers alongside value chain actors such as agro-inputs dealers, aggregators, processors, extension service providers, marketing centers, transporters, among others.”
He underscored the importance of farming in the country saying the President William Ruto-led administration was committed to revamping the agricultural sector with a long-term goal of increasing food production in the country.
The donation comes amid the government’s fertilizer subsidy program initiated in 2022 aimed at supporting food security agenda.
By November last year, the government had distributed four million bags of subsidised fertiliser through the National Cereals and Produce Board
According to Linturi, the government has prioritized some value chains through the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) that we believe will be most effective in realizing food security, reducing food imports and increasing exports
The Algerian Ambassador to Kenya, Mahi Boumediene, on his part lauded the move saying it will strengthen ties between the two countries.
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