Irish potato farmers in Meru received a major boost after the county government launched a tissue culture project to supply farmers with certified seeds.
Meru Deputy Governor Titus Ntuchiu who presided over the event said the programme will ensure farmers access clean, certified and high yielding tubers that will fetch better returns.
He said the initiative was in line with the county government’s pledge to increase food and household incomes for the residents through agriculture.
“I am glad to note that today’s launching ceremony of the high-tech project which is named Farm Inputs Promotion Services (FIPS), was hosted at the farm of one of the farmers in the County, Mr. Paul Munene who has embraced the new potato production technology,” said Mr Ntuchiu.
He added that through the Meru County Potato Cooperative Union, the county government aims at producing a total of 500,000 apical cuttings that will benefit 10,000 farmers.
Under this technology, around 900 apical cuttings are enough for an acre of land with a production of up to 17 egg tubers per cutting.
So far, the county government of Meru has disbursed a total of Sh538 million to support Meru farmers in this project.
The programme targets to support 773 community micro-projects across the County through Farmer Producer Organizations (Cooperatives) in four priority value chains (avocado, macadamia, bananas, and Irish potatoes).
The deputy governor was accompanied by County Agriculture Executive Carole Kagwiria Mutiga, and Chief of Staff Gideon Kimathi.
By Brendah Gakii
