Ploughing Cost Shoots by 30% Following Pricy Fuel

Tractor owners in the North Rift are dealing with an increase in the price of ploughing this is due to an increase in fuel prices. The price of ploughing an acre is now at Ksh.3,000 from the previous Ksh.2,300.

According to a review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) the price of diesel has increased by sh.5.75 a litre. The price of diesel that was previously sh.101 a litre is now sh.108.4 in Eldoret and sh. 108.8 in Kitale.

“We have got no other alternative but to increase the cost in order to make a margin out of our business,” said Gibson Koech,  a farmer in Cherangani, Trans-Nzoia county.

The increase has come before the onset of the year’s long rains. According to Kipkorir Menjo, the director of the Kenya Farmers Association, the increase in the cost of diesel at a period when farmers are in preparation for the second planting season is a major challenge to them. According to him, the lack of enough funds will make farmers reduce on acres under crop.

“ We want the government to cushion the vulnerable growers through subsidies on farm inputs to protect farmers from the high cost of production, said Mr. Menjo.

The government has set to reduce the production cost. This is after diesel was recorded with the highest price increase of sh.8

In the year 2016, most Kenyan farmers switched to SunCulture Solar Power to help dry the land. According to them, renewable power saved them from the demand for disel.