The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) has initiated the process of compensating farmers who unknowingly bought fake or substandard fertiliser from their stores.
In a statement, the board revealed that the farmers will be required to lodge formal complaints by filing in a claim declaration form which will be available at the depots where they purchased the fertiliser.
According to the NCPB, the farmers will then be required to drop the forms after filling in their details.
Besides filling the forms, the farmers will also be required to provide proof of purchase from the national subsidy programme.
Farmers will also be required to present their original national ID cards while submitting the claims.
Additionally, farmers will also be required to provide the exhibits where applicable for those who are yet to use the fertiliser.
For farmers who have already utilised the fertiliser and had their claims verified by NCPB, they will be issued with an equivalent amount of the top-dressing fertiliser.
NCPB however cautioned that farmers presenting their documents must match their claims with the existing records at NCPB's silos or depots.
The board further confirmed having distributed 3 million bags of top-dressing fertiliser to registered farmers just in time for the 2024 long rains.
“Farmers are continuing to receive e-voucher messages for top dressing fertilizer and are encouraged to visit the nearest NCPB depot or selling centre to purchase quality fertilizers under the Government Subsidy Programme (GSP),” stated NCPB.
The compensation comes after the government confirmed that one company contracted to supply fertiliser to the Board had distributed substandard input.
The company, however, has pleaded its innocence.
