Farmers in Western Kenya have been urged to embrace diversification as the region feels the pressure brought about by the ailing sugar sector and an inconsistent maize farming sector. Speaking during an interview at West FM, Statehouse Spokesperson Kanze Dena acknowledged the challenges facing the sugar sector in the region, with the headline problem being the struggle faced by Mumias Sugar Company.
She said farmers who intend to plant other crops can find help in County government offices or organizations geared toward offering the required assistance that have been set up. The farmers can visit the offices and check which other crops they can plant or which other farming alternative they can pursue. After that, the experts will test and check the soil, temperatures in the area and the land available and advise the farmers accordingly. She said farmers should also come up with ways of helping each other in their craft, in order to uplift each other.
However, Dena said President Uhuru Kenyatta hasn’t received the conclusive report on the ailing Mumias Company and sugar sector in general, despite the fact that leaders had already indicated months ago that the report is ready. She said in a past meeting last year with leaders from the region at State House led by Kakamega Governor Oparanya, Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa and Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka among others, he tasked the leaders present to find what the deep lying issue is, and find ways of dealing with it. This directive shouldn’t be mistaken with another directive that led to the formation of the much publicized sugar taskforce led by Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, which already finished its task and already compiled a report.
