The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Farmers in Nakuru County are hopeful that the ongoing rainfall will contribute to the maturation of their crops, coinciding with stabilized prices of food items.
As predicted by the Meteorological department last year, Nakuru County has experienced continuous scattered rains into January, particularly in areas like Elementaita, Kiambogo, and Mastoo, resulting in greener landscapes compared to the same period last year.
Despite uncertainties about the El Niño rains that were initially predicted, many farmers delayed planting during the short season. However, there has been a resurgence of activity with farmers returning to their fields as late as November, anticipating upcoming harvests. The current retail price for a kilogram of beans stands at Sh 80, a figure that has remained steady since September 2023.
Cereals trader Kevin Ilakho in Nakuru town observed, “A number have green maize and sorghum almost ready on their farms, a thing that was never witnessed in the past, signaling another harvest.”
Elementaita trading centre is witnessing green maize being sold for as low as Sh 10 per cob, attributed to a consistent supply from Mau Narok. This trading center serves as a crucial stopover for farmers transporting their produce to markets in Nakuru, Nairobi, and other major towns.
Ilakho added, “The demand for dry maize is low, compared to the same period last year. Families are also able to supplement their maize meals with potatoes that are readily available on their farms as a result of the continued rains.”
A December 2023 report by the Office of the Auditor General revealed that Nakuru County farmers were the second-largest beneficiaries of the subsidized fertilizer program after Uasin Gishu County, receiving over 440,000 bags out of the 3.4 million bags distributed nationwide. The successful uptake is attributed to the ongoing collaboration between the County and the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), ensuring the last-mile distribution of fertilizer across the county.
This program, streamlining farmers’ access to subsidized fertilizer by placing it in proximity and in a timely manner, has seen the establishment of satellite depots in Mutungati for Bahati Sub-County, Kiambogo-Gilgil, Kamara in Kuresoi, as well as Mauche in Njoro. Other storage facilities are in Molo and Kiptororo in Kuresoi North.
