Is the Kenyan Government really committed in expanding and loading the Country’s food basket?
There have time and again been claims that the Kenyan Government has not done enough to ensure that the Country’s food basket is always flowing with goodies.
Farmers too have complained of negligence by the Government with many claiming that the Government has done so little to boost the Country’s Agricultural sector.
It now looks like Kenyan Farmers are headed for tougher days ahead after the government today revealed that it will not import subsidized fertilizer this year.
This was confirmed by chairman of the Strategic Food Reserves Fund Noah Wekesa.
Wekesa said the farmers will have to buy the fertiliser from the open market.
He said although the government had been importing the fertiliser over the years, this time it will not be possible because of procurement challenges.
Wekesa spoke in Eldoret on Thursday after touring the NCPB depot in the region to oversee the purchase of maize from farmers by the board.
Last week, Attorney General Kihara Kariuki advised the Agriculture ministry not to import fertiliser through flawed procurement processes involving the firms contracted.
Kihara wrote to the ministry saying the importation tendering had been flawed and public money would be lost if the procurement for this year’s fertiliser was allowed to go on.
Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri had also revealed that the importation may not be possible because of procurement problems.
Should the Government’s latest decison spell doom for farmers.