Deputy President William Ruto has said farmers have to be smart and shift their focus from maize farming and focus on crop diversification. Speaking in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, the DP said the same maize problems can’t fuel the same problems every year, “We must change our trend. We won’t be fighting year in, year out concerning maize prices, we must think and plan well and make sure we have food and crops that give us money,” he said. The Deputy President said Jubilee’s project involving agriculture and production is diversification, and that the national government will join hands with County governments in this.
He cited the Blue Economy Conference which was held in Nairobi as a clear example that focus has shifted to other sources of food, in this case, tapping food sources from the oceans like fish. Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba also supported calls for diversification, and DP Ruto said those who are opposng the Governor’s calls aren’t smart, “Worldwide, people are thinking how they’ll have crops that will be a source of money,” said the DP. Governor Khaemba said the economy of Trans Nzoia depends majorly on maize farming and this shouldn’t be the case, “We are like that person constructing a house and has only one foundation, it can’t support the whole roof,” he said, “And so we’ve said, let’s try out other crops, in diversification.” Other leaders present including Kwanza MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi and Kiminini MP Chris Wamalawa urged the government to address the issues facing farmers.