AGRICULTURE | FARTILISERS 

The agriculture ministry has asked farmers to consider investing in fertilisers for only high-value crops for now until their (fertilisers) prices normalise.

Although high-value crops have been in the past considered as those in the horticultural sector, crops such as maize, coffee, beans are also high value depending on the acreage.

The call was made by agriculture ministry commissioner crop protection Stephen Bwantwale while commenting on calls by farmers across the country for a reduction in fertiliser prices. 

This was during an interview on Sunday, March 12, 2023.

Bwantwale attributed the high cost of fertilisers to the Russia-Ukraine war which has affected the manufacturing and export of fertilisers to other parts of the world.

“As we look for a solution, I request farmers to consider higher-value crops before buying fertilisers. They should also consider organic manure, animal or poultry dropping for other crops,” Bwantwale said.

According to fertiliser traders and farmers, a 50kg bag of DAP is going for shillings 200,000 up from shillings 140,000 in 2020. CAN (Calcium Ammonium Nitrate) is going for shillings 170,000 up from shillings 135,000. NPK (Nitrogen Phosphorus and Potassium) is selling at shillings 220,000 up from shillings 120,000.

UREA is going for shillings 190,000 up from shillings 120,000. Microp planting is at shillings 170,000 up from shillings 135,000 before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bwantwale added that in the meantime, they are waiting for the Government pronouncement on the fertiliser plant in Tororo district, which is expected to bring the cost of fertilisers down.