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State initiates nationwide farmer registration to deliver subsidised fertiliser & seed

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By George Munene

The Kenyan government will be embarking on nationwide farmer registration which will enable better delivery of services such as subsidised fertiliser and seed to authenticated farmers.

The month-long exercise is expected to commence before the disbursement of subsidised fertiliser ahead of the long rains season.

Speaking yesterday, January 4, 2023, at the Kenya School of Government in Lower Kabete during the training of the trainees that will carry out the registration, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi urged farmers to register. Through the program, he said, the government will know farmers’ locations, the number of farmers in need of assistance, and the agricultural sector they are engaged in which will enable the ministry to easily reach and serve them.

“This registration will help streamline the delivery of government fertiliser and seed subsidy programs to farmers to ensure our country becomes food secure in the near future,” he added.

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Having a digitised farmer registry will also weed out rogue traders who have been masquerading as farmers to access government-subsidised fertiliser.

“Through help from national government administration officers (formally the Provincial Administration), that comprises 8 regions, 47 counties, 369 sub-counties, 978 divisions, 3,950 locations, and 9,043 sub-locations we will ensure a coordinated registration process within the given timeline,” elaborated Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo.

He added that the process will not be mandatory nor coercive but voluntary and based on informed decisions by farmers who will see its value. He urged farmers to give accurate information and assured them that their data would be safe.

“We expect our trainers to uphold the highest levels of inclusivity, integrity, and fairness and dissuade anyone from using this as a rent-seeking exercise,” Omollo warned. “Farmers should know that the exercise will be free and should report any of our officers found to be indisciplined or derelict in their duties.”

Related News: Only 20% of farmers have access to subsidized fertiliser–CBK report

The registration program which will commence after the training of administrators will also involve the Ministry of Interior and National Administration (Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs), the National Bureau of Statistics, and the State Department for Lands.

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