President Uhuru Kenyatta Tuesday said the new prices would be implemented with immediate effect. PHOTO | FILE 
Fertiliser prices have been reduced by between Sh100 and Sh500 in a bid to boost food production.
President Uhuru Kenyatta Tuesday said the new prices would be implemented with immediate effect.
He spoke when he released the national soil test results and flagged off lorries containing subsidised fertilisers at Egerton University in Njoro, Nakuru County.
He was accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto.
The President said the price of a bag of DAP would drop to Sh2,000 from Sh2,480 while NPR, which was selling at Sh2,300, will now cost Sh2,000.
CAN, which farmers were buying at Sh1,600, will now retail at Sh1,500, while the cost of Urea will drop from Sh1,800 to Sh1,500.
“The only way to spur food production is to reduce the price of inputs such as fertilisers. My government is committed to making sure farmers have access to affordable fertilisers,” said President Kenyatta.
This year the government has purchased 143,000 tonnes of subsidised fertilisers at a cost of Sh7.2 billion, which will be distributed countrywide through the National Cereals and Produce Board.
The Head of State announced that a feasibility study to build a fertiliser factory in Kenya had been completed. The government would soon set aside funds for the factory, he added.
He said his government would boost agriculture by making sure farmers had the latest technology.
He challenged Egerton University to be at the forefront of innovation and pledged that the government would give the institution support to improve agriculture in Kenya.
“Farming should not be a business of peasant farmers but energetic young men who should turn millionaires through value addition,” said the President.
He said the government had released Sh600 million to buy livestock, drugs and vaccines.
On the declining soil fertility in various parts of the country, President Kenyatta said the government was dealing with the issue.
He announced that tests carried out in 164 sub-counties had been completed and urged the farmers to use the recommended fertilisers from agriculture experts to reduce soil acidity.