The government is set to open four new satellite fertiliser depots in Taita Taveta county ahead of the planting season.
According to the Principal Secretary in the state department of Crops development Kello Harsma, the new depots will ease access to the subsidised fertiliser and other farm inputs thus boosting food production.
"The NCPB satellite depots are meant for the last mile delivery of subsidised fertiliser bringing the commodity closer to farmers," Harsma said.
Initially, farmers in the county used to get subsidised fertilisers from the NCPB main depot in Voi town.
Harsma said this is part of the government's agenda to lower the cost of living by ensuring farmers have access to subsidised services.
He said the government has strengthened working ties with devolved units and development partners in efforts to promote food security in the country in line with the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda.
"We are working tirelessly to increase productivity to lower the cost of food. Subsidised services is part of the key intervention put in place," the PS said while launching the Taita Taveta Nafaka Farmers’ Cooperative seed processing plant and the deep tillage farming technology at Chala in Taveta subcounty on Saturday.
Further, the PS said 12 officers will be trained to take lead in manning the satellite depots ahead of the first dispatch of the subsidised fertiliser in a few weeks.
The deep tillage farming technology, Harsama said, is a positive approach for soil and water conservation amid the ravaging effects of climate change.
"Farmers should embrace a set of crop production techniques that will help them build resilience and increase production," the PS said.
Harsama said the new seed processing plant is set to strengthen the country's seeds systems in ensuring there is sufficient quality seed for sustained food security in the county.
The plant has been funded by the USAID through Feed the Future Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Systems programme. It will be critical in ensuring farmers have access to quality seeds.
He said, "Seed is a key factor of production and good seed gives good harvest. The plant will therefore ensure easy access to affordable planting seeds."
He said the state is keen to produce improved varieties, increase access to quality and affordable seeds, manage soil health and strengthen capacity across the seed value chain.
Further, he said the department targets to enhance farmers' access to finances, develop infrastructure and improve the policy and regulatory framework for sustainability.
Taita Taveta Deputy governor Christine Kilalo advised farmers to embrace adaptation measures, among them being the introduction of technologies that will boost food security.
She said, increased production will be a relief to hundreds of residents who are in need of food assistance due to continued drought.
"Farmers should embrace conservation agriculture technologies like deep tillage, a technology that will help better utilise the available farmland and be assured of harvest amid little rains," she said.
Farmers in the region are preparing their land ahead of the much anticipated El-Nino rains in the October-December season.
Source: The Star