The National Treasury has allocated Sh64 billion to the agriculture sector in the 2026/2027 national budget representing an increase of Sh16.4 billion compared to Sh47.6 in the previous fiscal year.
It allocated Sh18 billion up from Sh8 billion for the fertiliser subsidy programme and a Sh2 billion maize seed subsidy to cushion farmers against high production costs.
2026/27 budget: Trans Nzoia farmers demand tax relief on farm inputs
Some Sh4.7 billion was allocated for the National Agricultural value chain Development Project, down from Sh10.2 billion in the previous fiscal year.
Further, it allocated Sh1.6 billion for the food security and crop diversification project, up from Sh1.2 billion in the previous fiscal year, and Sh1 billion for coffee seedlings development.
The increased budgetary allocation for fertiliser subsidy was hailed by maize farmers in the North Rift region, amid appeals for proper planning and distribution of the vital farm input to protect them against exploitation by middlemen pushing high production costs.
The farmers petitioned the government to adhere to the Maputo declaration and other protocols on agriculture and food security and allocate 10 per cent of national budgetary resources to the sector.
“The government needs to maintain a steady budgetary allocation to the sector to cope with the increased production cost as a result of global rise in the cost of farm inputs, including fuel, pesticides, among other charges,” said Kipkorir Menjo, a Kenya Farmers Association director.
“Farmers have emerged losers in previous national budgetary allocations due to slashed funds to the sector against the rising cost of farm inputs and unsteady market for produce, the current budget will cushion them against such challenges,” said Joshua Lang’at from Burende, Nandi County.
Titus Yego, a farmer from Trans Nzoia, said: “As much as we support the subsidy, the government should ensure proper use of the funds and maximise procurement of the farm inputs to cushion the heavy burden of production.”
The farmers called for an enhanced maize seed subsidy programme to cushion them against high production costs.
“We want the government to support Kenya Seed Company to be able to produce more seed at a cheaper production cost so that farmers can access seed maize at a lower price,” said Martin Wanjala, a farmer from Kwanza sub-county.
At the same time, the farmer asked the government to strengthen marketing and value addition to make agriculture a profitable investment.
“Apart from boosting crop productivity for domestic consumption and export, the interventions should empower farmers to earn attractive income,” said David Kosgei from Sergoit, Uasin Gishu County.
Many farmers in the North Rift region are venturing into coffee cultivation driven by attractive returns from the cash crop. Interviewed farmers in Trans Nzoia, a key maize production zone, said the Sh1 billion for coffee seedlings development will motivate them to cultivation of the cash crop.
Uasin Gishu County, another leading maize growing zone, is selling coffee seedlings at its Chebororwa Agricultural Training Centre at subsidised rate of Sh30 per seedling.
Reporting by Barnabas Bii, Evans Jaola and Sammy Waweru.
