Nairobi, Jan. 30 -- Bringing onboard the Kenya National Trading Council (KNTC) as the procuring agency for subsidised fertiliser will hit the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) revenue, which hardly receives budgetary support from the Treasury.

The government has settled on the KNTC to procure and sell fertiliser to farmers, a role that was previously played by NCPB, which then bills the Treasury for services rendered.

Under the scheme, KNTC will pay the NCPB Sh50 for the distribution of a single bag, way below the Sh150 that the grain handler normally earns for the same quantity when doing distribution for other agencies, including the government.

NCPB normally relies on services such as the distribution of fertiliser and the s...