Baringo County government has allocated Sh30 Million to cash crop farming in a bid to boost agricultural productivity of local farmers.
Speaking during official launch of distribution of more than 100,000 coffee seedlings at Kimoriot Center in Mochongoi ward, Baringo South on Thursday, Baringo governor Stanley Kiptis said the money meant for cash crop improvement programmes in the financial year of 2021/2022 is aimed at uplifting farmers through distribution of free seedlings of viable cash crops like coffee, avocado, macadamia, bananas and apple in order to increase crop yields.
Kiptis said that the move seeks to offer alternative means of livelihoods to pastoral communities who have equally been affected with challenges of cattle rustling to venture into crop farming which is devoid of such retrogressive practices.
“I am urging all our residents to roll up their sleeves and go to the farms because this is where we will get more money to feed our families,” he stated.
The Baringo boss added that his administration has negotiated with foreign investors who have direct markets of some agricultural produce in order for the locals to benefit from the global prices which are usually very high.
Deputy Governor Jacob Chepkwony in his remarks urged farmers to take advantage of the recently commissioned Sh100 million Baringo Coffee factory in Baringo North which mills 1.2 tonnes of coffee per hour by planting more coffee trees to ensure its sustainability.
He noted that the soils within the county have been tested and found to be very productive in a range of cash crops that can boost the economy of the people as well as the county.
County Executive Committee member (CEC) for Agriculture Dr. Joel Koima flanked by Chief Officer Wesley Kiplagat challenged farmers from Mochongoi settlement scheme to embrace large scale production of cash crops.
Koima pointed out that the locals still have enough land to use in productive activities like cash crop farming.
Mochongoi MCA Kipruto Kimosop lauded the programme saying it will boost farmers in his area who were now embracing commercial farming.
He said farmers from his ward are lucky because of a new 100 Kilometers tarmac road from Karandi-Mochongoi-Marigat which will ease transportation of coffee produce to the factory in Baringo North.
By Benson Kelio and Joshua Kibet
