KTDA Management Services (KTDA MS) has announced that 97,000 metric tonnes (MT) of fertilizer for the 2024/2025 season will arrive in the country in September.
The service reveled that thenconsignment is an increase from the 88,000 MT procured last year.
It attributed the increase to expanding smallholder tea acreage and a growing preference among organizations and individuals outside the KTDA network to place orders through the agency.
KTDA MS Managing Director Collins Bett stated that the NPK 26:5:5 chemically compounded fertilizer was sourced directly from Russia.
It will be bagged at the port and distributed to farmers through their respective factories, ensuring efficient and timely delivery for farm applications.
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“The first shipment, carrying approximately 47,400 tonnes of fertilizer, will dock at the Port of Mombasa on September 10th. The second shipment, carrying the remaining balance, is expected to arrive two weeks later,” he said.
Several factors, including the cost of natural gas, exchange rates, shipment costs, marine and overland insurance costs, and clearing and transportation costs to the respective tea factories, will determine the final cost of a 50-kilogram bag of fertilizer.
Applying fertiliser at the start of the short rains is crucial for maintaining the high quality and quantity of green leaf required for premium tea production.
KTDA procures fertilizer in bulk through competitive international bidding, benefiting more than 680,000 small-scale tea farmers who are shareholders of its managed factories.
This arrangement allows these farmers to reliably access high-quality fertilizer at competitive prices.
