Blow to farmers as heavy rains delays offloading of fertiliser consignments at the port of Mombasa.

Heavy rains pounding the coastal area have affected the offloading of fertiliser consignments at the port of Mombasa, dealing a blow to farmers targeting to use the key agricultural input in the present planting season.

Demand for fertiliser climbs sharply at the onset of the traditional April-long rains.

Persistent down pours in Mombasa, however, threaten to interrupt the flow of fertiliser into the market at a time farmers need it the most.

“The downpour at the port has heavily affected visibility and operations. Commodities like fertiliser cannot be offloaded. In the last 24 hours, only 220 tonnes of fertiliser have been offloaded compared to 3,300 tonnes in a normal day,” Mr Bernard Osero, a spokesman at the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) said in an update.

Official work schedules at the port showed that two bulk carrier vessels are expected to dock in Mombasa with a total of 46,440 tonnes of the farm input within the next two weeks.

Last week, fertiliser imports were among the most dominant at the facility alongside bulk clinker.

INCREASED DEMAND

Statistics by KPA showed that the port last week handled 28,597 tonnes of fertiliser reflecting increased demand of the commodity for planting.

Delays in the supply chain of the key planting ingredient often result in serious price distortion as middle-men take advantage to profiteer, leaving farmers staring at un-projected higher production costs.

The country heavily relies on imports to satisfy its fertiliser needs.

The Treasury spends about Sh3 billion annually to provide farmers with low-cost fertiliser at Sh1,600 compared to market rate of Sh3,500.

A new Sh103 billion fertiliser factory currently being built in Eldoret in partnership with Toyota Tsusho East Africa is, however, expected to end the perennial shortage of the input in the country, which has in the past exposed farmers to exorbitant prices.

The government estimates that the plant will cut the cost of fertiliser by about 40 per cent, or less than Sh2,000 per 50 kilogramme bag, saving the State billions of shillings in subsidies.

The Kenya Meteorological Department last month said precipitation during the current long rain season is expected to be low in most parts of the country and poorly distributed, presenting a mixed picture for the inflation outlook.

http://www.nation.co.ke/business/