Migori: Farmers decry challenges accessing subsidized fertilizer

Farmers in Migori County are calling on the government to establish more National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) stores closer to farming communities to ease access to subsidised fertiliser.

The farmers say they are facing challenges accessing the fertiliser, with a spot check by Citizen Digital establishing that some farmers travel more than 20 kilometres to reach the nearest NCPB store.

Farmers in Rongo Sub-County, for instance, travel more than 20 kilometres to Awendo to access the subsidised fertiliser.

Some of the farmers, led by Martin Ondong, say they are also forced to make several trips to the NCPB stores due to long queues and other challenges.

Ondong says the government should streamline the distribution process to ensure farmers receive the fertiliser on time and without unnecessary difficulties.

The concerns come a week after a section of farmers alleged that cartels were benefiting from the subsidised fertiliser programme at the expense of the intended beneficiaries.

The farmers claimed that the cartels could be working with some NCPB store managers to divert and sell fertiliser meant for farmers.