0
0
Nairobi, 18th September 2024 — In a significant step toward enhancing tea production, the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Agriculture, Dr. Kipronoh Rono, flagged off the first consignment of 47,300 metric tonnes of subsidized NPK fertilizer destined for smallholder tea farmers across Kenya. This marks the first of two shipments, with the second expected to arrive shortly, totaling nearly 97,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer.
The NPK 26:5:5 chemically compounded fertilizer will be bagged at the port and distributed directly to farmers through their respective tea factories, ensuring efficient and timely delivery ahead of the upcoming short rains season. The timely application of this fertilizer is critical for maintaining the high quality and quantity of green leaves necessary for premium tea production.
Dr. Kipronoh emphasized the government’s commitment to providing affordable, high-quality, and accessible fertilizers to farmers, noting, “This will enhance farm productivity, drive food security, and ensure our farmers are fairly compensated for their hard work.”
The flag-off event was attended by Wilson Muthaura, Group Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Holdings Limited, and KTDA National Chairman Enos Njeru. They highlighted the importance of supporting more than 680,000 small-scale tea farmers, who benefit from KTDA’s bulk procurement strategy, which involves competitive international bidding.
The subsidized fertilizer initiative is expected to significantly boost tea yields and improve the livelihoods of farmers, reinforcing Kenya’s standing as a leading global tea producer.
