 |
| Export Trading Company’s Lewis Charles (left) and businessman Zedekiah Bundotich, alias Buzeki, address journalists after a meeting with maize farmers at Kenmosa in Eldoret on February 9, 2019. The company wants to supply farmers with fertiliser. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP |
The fertiliser crisis has opened a new political battle front between Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago and his rival Zedekiah Bundotich alias Buzeki.
The clash was ignited after Mr Bundotich teamed up with a company – which specialises in the distribution of fertiliser globally – to supply the input to farmers as well as buy their maize.
The move has not gone down well with Mr Mandago and leaders allied to him who view the move as politically motivated, and which Mr Buzeki is using as a political spring board ahead of the 2022 elections.
Mr Bundotich, who unsuccessfully vied for the gubernatorial seat in 2017, has convinced some farmers in the region to enter into a partnership with Export Trading Group (ETG).
SUBSIDY
Mr Bundotich, who together with representatives from ETG signed an MoU with farmers on Friday last week, said the farmers entered into the deal due to the impeding shortage of fertiliser they are foreseeing because of lack of government subsidy.
The businessman yesterday said that through the partnership, ETG will supply farmers with DAP fertiliser at Sh3,000 while his company will provide transportation and other logistical support.
But Mr Mandago claimed that the company is eyeing to benefit from part of the Sh4.5 billion meant to purchase subsidised fertiliser.
FOOD SECURITY
He thus opposed the arrangement saying the country has many fertiliser blending companies, citing Toyota Tsusho fertiliser company in Ngeria, Eldoret, which he said has the capacity to blend the input for Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia counties.
“We also have Athi River Mining Company that has been blending fertiliser that has been used in this country. Why can’t the ministry contract these local companies to blend fertiliser and subsidise it for farmers?” He posed.
The governor, who spoke on Tuesday after making the state of the county address during the re-opening of the county assembly, said claims that the government has no plans to procure subsidised fertiliser this season spell doom for farmers.