The government has announced a plan to compensate farmers who have been affected by the current fake fertiliser fiasco that has caused a stir in the country.
Speaking on Saturday, Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh said that the Ministry under the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) is currently collecting data from those affected by the fake fertiliser for compensation.
“We are engaging the farmers who were affected and we have directed NCPB to move ahead and facilitate them by capturing the data and ascertaining the information so they are assisted.”
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However, the Principal Secretary noted that farmers who have not planted will be given alternative fertiliser while those who have already used the fake fertiliser will be supplied with top dressing to help address nutrient deficiencies in the plants.
“We have been able to analyse the substandard fertiliser and establish the nutrient that was missing in it. We will address the matter promptly.”
According to the PS, the most affected areas have been identified which are some counties in the North Rift and a few other areas in the South Rift where planting started in March.
The PS also said that all those who were involved in the fake fertiliser scandal will be arrested after completion of investigations and arraigned to face the full wrath of the law.
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“I want to assure the public that there will be no more distribution of counterfeit farm inputs not only fertiliser but also seeds and pesticides in our country. What you will only be hearing are people in jail and people in court.”
For starters, the PS noted that the company involved in the manufacture of the fake fertiliser has since been closed and the licence is withdrawn.