Nairobi — President William Ruto has launched the second phase of the fertilizer subsidy program that reduces the price of the commodity for farmers countrywide further from Sh3,500 to Sh2,500.

According to the head of state, this will boost farmers produce during the short rains season that is soon to kick off.

President Ruto urged farmers to double fertilizer use per acre to increase yields. Data shows doubling fertilizer results in 12 to 25 bags of maize.

"For the coming short rains, the government has embarked on the distribution of fertiliser to farmers throughout the country, with a view to ultimately delivering 100,000 MT, or 2 million 50kg bags, at a subsidised cost of Sh2,500," he stated.

He further announced the launch of the second phase of countrywide digital farmer registration exercise and a last mile partnership with county governments.

"I urge the county governments to work closely with NCPB to open up more stores where our farmers can get the subsidized fertilizers," Ruto stated.

President Ruto has said that reducing the cost of fertilizer will boost crop production in the coming short rain season.

He encouraged farmers across the country to re-double the use of the subsidized fertilizers distributed by the government at National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) in order to increase production which will eventually lower the High cost of Living.

The president has also added that his government will increase the farmers credit kit from Sh2 million to Sh10 million so that farmers can access affordable credit loans to buy farm Inputs.

Additionally, 100 dryer machines will be distributed to farmers at an affordable rate in all NCPB offices across the country where the government will meet half of the cost of purchase.

So far 3M bags of subsidized fertilizer have been supplied to farmers since the government launched the first phase of the fertilizer subsidy program.