This tweet bears an image claiming to show a farm in Rift Valley. The author alleges that the crops were destroyed after applying the subsidized fertilizer on the farm.
Background
The Kenyan government rolled out the subsidized fertilizer program on September 20, 2022. President William Ruto made the promise during his inauguration on September 13, 2022, and this was among the first promises he delivered. However, some farmers have criticized the program claiming that it was more expensive as they had to blend the fertilizer with other brands for it to be effective.
Verification
A Google reverse image search reveals that the image on the tweet was first shared on August 11, 2020.
An article published by the Spokesman-Review, attributed to the Associated Press, reported a powerful storm known as Derecho blew through Eastern Nebraska through to Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois in the United States, leaving a trail of destruction. The image was from one of the farms that make up the 10 acres damaged during the storm. Maize was the most affected crop. More articles reporting the same incident, bearing the same photo were also published here, here, and here.
Verdict
Claims that the image is of a farm in the Rift Valley are FAKE.
This fact check was published by Piga Firimbi with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and African Fact-Checking Alliance.
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