The first consignment of the 99,000 Metric Tonnes of NPK fertilizer that was procured by Kenya Tea Development Agency for its managed tea processing factories is set to arrive in the country in October.

In a notice published on the KTDA website, the agency’s acting Head of Procurement and Logistics, Peter Mungai, confirmed that it had finalized the process of importing the input whose composition ratio should be 26 (Nitrogen): 5 (Phosphorous) :5 (Potassium).

“KTDA management service limited has finalized the process of importation of 99,875 metric tonnes of bagged fertilizer for its managed tea processing factories. The first consignment is expected to arrive in early October or thereabout,” reads the notice.

This year’s consignment of the Nitrogen Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) fertilizer is approximated to be 1.9 million, 50 Kilogram bags. The purchase is 2,887 Metric Tonnes more than what the agency procured during the 2024 growing season when 97,000 Metric Tonnes of the input were procured from Russia through competitive international bidding.

According to the notice, KTDA is now working on the modalities of ensuring the fertilizer is delivered to the over 69 factories distributed across the 16 tea growing counties.

Further, the agency says that it has approved a payment rate of Sh15.57 per tonne, per kilometre for transporters delivering the input to factories in Zone A (the South Rift region Bomet,) and Sh 11.92 57 per tonne, per kilometre for transporters who will deliver the fertilizer to factories in Zone B (East of the Rift) and C (West of the Rift).

In order to qualify, transporters will be required to have trucks that have a carrying capacity of more than 15 tonnes and be registered to a citizen or under a Kenyan company name. The trucks must also be compliant with all government requirements on commercial motor vehicles such as third-party insurance cover, have a vehicle tracking device and a speed governor.

“Transporters who participated in the tender and are willing to accept this offer are hereby invited to collect and sign contract documents from the office of the Head of Field Services and Agriculture, “says the notice.

The agency has been procuring fertilizer in bulk for smallholder tea farmers who deliver green leaf to KTDA managed factories. This arrangement ensures that the farmers have access to high quality fertilizer at competitive prices and in a reliable manner.

Once the input is delivered in the country, KTDA then packages the input in the 50-kilogram bags and sets the retail price. The input is then distributed to the farmers through their respective factories where KTDA recovers money from the individual farmer during the bonus payment and monthly green leaf payout.

Last year, the agency supplied the input at the cost of Sh 2,500 per 50-kilogram bag, after the Ministry of Agriculture availed a Sh 2 billion fertilizer subsidy for the tea subsector. The move helped the farmers secure a Sh 900 discount for every 50 Kilogram bag of fertilizer purchased at the factory.