Uasin Gishu County To Construct Fertilizer Factory In Eldoret

Bags of DAP fertilizer. | image source: quangbingjsc.trustpass.alibaba.com

Construction of a Ksh8 billion fertilizer factory in Eldoret will start this year.

The Uasin Gishu Agriculture executive Ambrose Cheruiyot told The Star on Friday that construction of the factory will help cut the cost of fertilizer by more than 50 per cent.

“The cost of farm inputs has been a major challenge to farmers,” he said.

Experts have visited the project site after the government identified land near Moi Barracks on the Eldoret-Kitale road.

Toyota Tsusho Corporation of Japan, a partner in the project with the government of Kenya, has carried out a feasibility study for the plant which will be funded by the private sector.

Plans for the factory were discussed by Deputy President William Ruto and Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago last year.

Cheruiyot said the government will partner with agricultural universities to ensure the factory produces fertilizer suitable for the region.

This year the government will import more than 102,000 tonnes of subsidized fertilizer.

“We will supply the fertilizer through our depots,” National Cereals and Produce Board boss Newton Terer said.

The state has already cut DAP fertiliser price from Sh2,000 to Sh1,800 per 50kg bag.

- The STAR