Fertilizer For Tea Farmers Arrives

By: John Kariuki

Ship with first consignment of fertilizer docks at Mombasa port

The Kenya tea development Agency Management Services Limited (KTDA MS) has imported 92,737 tonnes i.e. 956,000 50kg bags, while the second delivering the balance is expected to dock in November.

The fertilizer will be bagged at port for onward distribution to farmers via SGR to Nairobi and further to factories. This arrangement allows smooth and efficient delivery to farmers’ upto the closest tea buying centres. Farmers do not incur extra cost transporting the fertilizer from the factory stores.

The cost of fertilizer has been negatively impacted by rising cost of natural gas (a key component in the manufacture of NPK chemically compounded fertilizer) unfavourable exchange rates, global supply constraints, high crude oil costs, and the cost of shipment among other factors. The final cost of a 50kg bag of fertilizer will be determined once the clearing And transport cost to respective tea factories across the country as well as marine and overland insurance cost have been factored in.

Application of fertilizer on tea bushes at the onset of the short rains is necessary to ensure consistent high quality and quantity of Green leaf essential for premium tea production.

KTDA procures fertilizer in bulk for more than 650,000 small scale tea farmers who are the shareholders of its managed factories through competitive international bidding. The fertilizer is then distributed to the farmers through the respective factory companies. This arrangement enables small scale tea farmers to access high quality fertiliser at the most competitive price and in a reliable manner.

The effectiveness of the procurement and distribution process has attracted other organisations and individuals who are not necessarily within the KTDA network who now prefer to make their orders through KTDA.

The KTDA fertilizer credit scheme enables farmers to pay in instalments for the fertilizer they have ordered for use in their farm. These payments are made over several months to ease the farmers’ burden on the purchase of fertilizer which is a major input cost in tea farming.