An initiative involving Brookside Company has been launched to educate farmers from Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties on better farming methods to improve their farming yields. While addressing the press after a meeting with farmers drawn from several Sub Counties in Trans Nzoia County, Brookside Company Director in charge of procurement in Africa John Gethi said they have partnered with Livelihoods Company to educate farmers in the two Counties about better methods of farming in order to improve their yields. “Most farmers lack the necessary skills in agriculture and we came with up this program to educate them on better methods of farming so that they can improve their yields,” said Gethi.
According to Gethi, studies indicate that farmers haven’t used new farming methods, and this has led to low yields, which have in turn affected food production. Many farmers have been using irrelevant farming methods. He said the initiative to educate farmers will last for the next 10 years and will target 30,000 farmers. He said he was optimistic that after the end of the exercise, there would be massive benefits for all participants.
Among the leaders who graced the occasion was Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka who said 53% of farmers in the two counties of Bungoma and Trans Nzoia are poor and there was the need to empower them with relevant knowledge in tackling some problems affecting their practice. He called upon farmers to take the initiative by Livelihoods Company seriously so that they gain some relevant knowledge pertaining farming in several fields so that they can get the skills to improve on their farming produces.
He called upon farmers to take the initiative by Livelihoods Company seriously so that they can gain relevant knowledge pertaining farming in several fields.
He, however, refuted claims that his government has not been empowering farmers in terms of Agricultural skills and innovations. He said they have offered soft loans to farmers, as well as providing fertilizer, seeds, and more than 400 dairy cattle to farmers to improve their agricultural endeavors. He also urged farmers to attend seminars organized by agriculture extension officers so that they can tap new knowledge in the sector.
He welcomed the initiative by the Mt. Elgon Livelihoods, Brookside, in the quest to educate farmers from the two counties.
On his part, Trans Nzoia Deputy governor Stanley Kenei urged farmers to practice diversification in agriculture to avoid dependence on the same kind of crop, which he said was not beneficial to the residents, compared to mixed farming. Kenei said the county government is in the process of procuring coolant machines for farmers in respective sub counties to help boost milk production and also produce quality milk.