Agrovet

Purchase of seed from the agrovets within and outside the village as well as from the Indian markets was commonly practised by the rich and medium category farmers.

The new company (the name of which has yet to be finalized) will have all the other businesses, namely hospitals, nutrients, IV fluid and agrovet (Crop protection).

Such information can be provided through agrovets, private veterinary practitioners or government extension officers acting in their private capacity.

Agrovets are not evenly distributed; farmers often have to travel 15–20 km to the nearest agrovet. Also they can be part-time, have limited stocks and lack product knowledge; therefore they are not always a reliable distribution system.

In 2011, John Kibete, from Kipkaren in Uasin Gishu district, bought government-subsidised DAP fertiliser and certified hybrid seed from a local agrovet; however, having paid for the fertiliser in February, John had to wait until the end of April (and spend several days queuing at the suppliers along with hundreds of other farmers) to receive his fertiliser.