The 2019 Kakamega ASK Show officially commenced on Thursday at the Kakamega showground. The three-day event is bringing together exhibitors from various sectors showcasing their products and services to the people thronging the venue.
The first day was marked with few people coming in, though it is an improvement to last year’s first day of the same event.
Top on the exhibitors list is Kenya’s top seed company Kenya Seed with their stand as elaborative as always, with the new maize and vegetable seed breeds in town and free expertise to farmers who did not mind pass by the stand to be educated on various issues, apart from also enjoying the privilege to purchase products of their choices at reduced prices.
The banking sector has also been well represented, with Equity Bank leading the way. Equity Bank’s Peter Akwoyo, Kakamega Branch manager says the bank has a lot in store for farmers during this year’s show.
“We have several loan provisions for farmers this time around. Kilimo Biashara loan and Commercial Agriculture loans are good examples of the same, meant to improve agriculture in our region,” Akwoyo said.
He also added that the bank was offering insurance services that come along with the loans to achieve even more efficiency. “Apart from the loans, a farmer also benefits with Motor Insurance and Bima ya Mifugo products intended at offering security to a farmer’s investments,” he added.
The chair ASK Western Region Lodivicus Okutoyi expressed his satisfaction on the first day, oozing of great confidence that the numbers would actually improve even further the second and third day.
He also noted that this year’s show had seen an uptake on the innovativeness and creativity being showcased from the various exhibitors on board, especially from youth whom he said had shown a lot of commitment in creating employment opportunities instead of waiting upon government jobs that are hard to come by.
“We are just impressed. We have registered around 300 schools coming in with their students today, isn’t that impressive? And this year’s innovativeness has just been on another level, we are looking forward to even better in the days to come,” he said.
Okutoyi challenged others to visit the show, telling them that they were missing a lot. “It’s here that a farmer can expect to get more insight on how to improve his or her agriculture. And not just farmers, there is something for everyone.”
Media stands were also crowded with people interested in this or that information, with the West Media adequately represented by Dalmus Sakali ‘Dalmundu’ and Mike Kaguongo. The ASK Show, whose theme is ‘Enhancing Technology in Agriculture and Industry for Food Security and National Growth’ will end on Saturday.
