Kenya’s first fertilizer plant is set to be commissioned soon. Mea Fertilisers Managing Director, Eustace Muriuki confirmed the report and said that the plant is set to open by end of the year in bid to boost farmer’s yields in 2021.
“The plant is set for commissioning in December and will be ready to produce tailor-made NPK fertilisers for the 2021 long rains season,” said Eustace Muriuki who is also Fertiplant consultant.
Steam granulation technology
Construction of the plant started in 2015 and was funded by Oikocredit and NCBA. It is located in Nakuru was constructed by Fertiplant East Africa at a cost of Sh 3bn. The fertilizer plant will employ the latest in steam granulation technology, with operations anchored in soil testing. This in return will produce fertilizer for various soil types and crop specific requirements informed by results from soil tests conducted.
The NPK Compound Granulation plant upon operational, is expected to supply 100,000 tonnes of fertiliser, 50% of Kenya’s annual NPK consumption capacity and serve up to two million farmers in the country annually. The soil testing comes in the wake of increased acidity in soils that has significantly reduced fertility, hence reduced yields for farmers.
Boost yields
The plant will produce fertilizers for coffee, tea, maize, sugarcane, horticulture, flowers and potatoes for the greater East African Market. Greenhouse owners will also benefit from having crop-specific fertilizer available for their use all year round.
“We have to remove guesswork from farming by encouraging soil testing, the production and application of fertiliser guided by the test results. Studies show under good management, farms have a production capacity of up to 40 bags per acre of maize, a potential that many Kenyan farmers are currently undershooting by far,” said Agriculture CS Peter Munya when he visited the plant.
