Posted on September, 18, 2017 at 09:59 am
West Pokot and Trans Nzoia counties have partnered with the private sector to increase food production, make it competitive and improve incomes.
West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo and his Trans Nzoia counterpart Patrick Khaemba toured the MEA fertiliser plant in Nakuru on Friday. It makes specialised fertiliser suited to specific soils.
Lonyangapuo said many subsistence farmers will be able to venture in agribusiness and shift from the pastoral way of life.
“We are engaging other counties to work with the private sector in agriculture with a view of spurring specialised farming, which will create multiple opportunities,†he said.
MEA is a Kenyan company helping farmers in East Africa improve production with better fertiliser, among other things.
Khaemba said MEA will help agricultural extension officers to carry out comprehensive soil testing programmes.
“For many years, the region has been contending with insufficient food. This problem is largely caused by the national government’s tradition of blindly distributing fertiliser to farmers,†he said.
Khaemba said if county governments educate farmers on available competitive methods of farming, food production will improve.
West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio said, “I call for subsidies on tailor-made fertiliser blends to expand food production for small-holder farmers to ease the pressure on the few national strategic grain reserves.
Source: The Star