This archive report was first published on 24 August 2019.
Published on August 24, 2019, the Kenya Fertiliser Platform (KeFERT) has been formed to address the challenges facing the fertiliser industry in Kenya.
Co-chaired by Eustace Muriuki, KeFERT aims to identify and address policy issues and constraints facing the sector.
One of the main goals of KeFERT is to overhaul the government fertiliser subsidy programme, which has been marred by corruption and inefficiency.
The current system allows unscrupulous businessmen to purchase fertiliser, repackage it, and sell it to farmers at exorbitant prices.
KeFERT is advocating for a smart system that uses electronic vouchers to ensure that only deserving farmers receive the subsidy.
Under this system, farmers' details, including their acreage, will be captured in the loaded voucher, which they will use to access the commodity from dealers of their own choice.
KeFERT is also working on developing a soil policy that will address soil-related issues in totality, from managing soil acidity to selling region and crop-specific fertilisers.
The soil policy will involve countrywide soil tests to determine the best types of fertilisers for each region, increasing production and productivity.
Manufactured and imported fertiliser will have to factor in the problems of the Kenyan soil, and every county will have its own soil fertility map to guide farmers on the condition of their soil and the type of fertiliser suitable for their crops.
