The County Government of Uasin Gishu is keen on enhancing food security, increasing market access for agricultural produce, and building resilience to climate change.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has said the county has continued to focus on modern farming practices by improving seeds, fertiliser, enterprise diversification, and mechanisation.
Buoyed by the recent Infotrak survey that ranked the county at the top in agriculture with 63 per cent potential in crop production, Governor Bii said his administration has invested heavily in extension services, farmer training, and innovative approaches that enable farmers to excel in the sector.
Speaking during the second edition of the East Africa Grain Council, the North Rift Region Agribusiness Expo held at the Eldoret National Polytechnic, with the theme ‘climate-smart technologies and practices for sustainable food systems’ said the ultimate goal for his administration was to modernise agriculture, facilitate trade, and bolster their capacity to adapt to the ever-shifting climate patterns.
He at the same time advised grain farmers in the county who have harvested their maize and wheat to make use of numerous cereal stores constructed across the county and the national cereal and produce board stores to safely store the produce and prevent post-harvest losses.
“To prevent post-harvest losses, my administration has constructed cereal stores across the county,” said the governor, adding that, in collaboration with the national government, the county expects 12 mobile dryers to help farmers reduce moisture content in maize and wheat produce to the required level.
“I also encourage the farmers to make use of the warehouse receipt system to preserve their produce and sell when prices have improved to maximise economic gains,” he advised.
Farmers in the county, according to Governor Bii, anticipate a bumper harvest of maize this year as a result of the subsidised fertiliser.
“Our farmers expect to harvest an estimate of 5.5 million bags of maize this year, up from 4.5 million last year because of the government’s subsidised fertiliser intervention.”
He at the same time advised farmers to make use of the October-December enhanced rains to plant short-term crops such as sunflowers, whose seeds are readily available at the NCPB stores.
The governor, who has been at the forefront of agriculture diversification through his ‘Nguzo Kumi’ agenda, called for the promotion of high-value crop production, especially coffee, avocado, macadamia, passion fruits, and herbs that he noted were major export crops that can change the economic standards of farmers in the county.
By Kiptanui Cherono
