Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri has urged farmers not to focus solely on maize farming but to embrace crop diversification. Speaking at the opening of the Kitale Agriculture Show, he said the Government will work together with relevant bodies tasked with offering extension services to farmers by empowering them to perform their obligations well.
He said the government’s initiative of offering 323 coolers countrywide with 14 milk coolers in the County, as well as building bull stations at Endebess will help in animal production calling upon the
farmers to utilize the services.
He, however, said the government has put up initiatives to ensure
farmers get the necessary support ranging from certified seeds sold to farmers at affordable prices which will in turn help them produce more
yields both for domestic and sale
The CS appealed to farmers in the country to insure their farm
produce so that they are compensated whenever they don’t gain
sufficient produce owing to changing weather environments in the
country.
Among the leaders who accompanied the CS include Kwanza MP Ferdinand
Wanyonyi, Trans Nzoia deputy Governor Stanley Kenei Tarus as well
as Kenya Seed managing director Azariah Soy.
Wanyonyi, who doubles up as committee member for Agriculture in the
National Assembly, said they won’t accept anything less than Kshs. 3500 for the 90 kg bag of maize.
He further urged the government to provide subsidized fertilizer to farmers
on time as well as making sure it offers relevant services including
extension to farmers to boost yields.
On his part, Deputy Governor Stanley Kenei Tarus said the County government has been working in unison with the national government to ensure the agriculture sector improves in Trans Nzoia.
He said the County government has been procuring fertilizers for
the needy farmers, something that has helped in improvement of yields.
Kenya Seed Managing Director Azaria Soy called upon the farmers to
plan early by cultivating their farms before the onset of rainfall in order to receive good yields.
