More than 100,000 farmers who were recently registered for the National Government Subsidized fertilizer disbursement program are set to benefit from soil testing meant to increase their crop yields.
Speaking during the official launch of the soil testing campaign at Busia Agricultural Training Centre on Thursday, Governor Paul Otuoma said that all the 112,000 farmers will have their soil tested in order to improve food security in the County.
“The campaign aims at increasing crop production and enhancing food security,” Otuoma said.
Governor Otuoma attributed the perennial low crop production in the County to increased soil acidity and urged the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Kenya Crops and Dairy Markets System, and other partners to reverse the trend.
“This exercise is timely, it has come at a time when we are also about to start our fieldwork to ascertain the soils of our farmers,” he said, adding that the agriculture team will visit all 35 wards across the county.
The soil testing exercise will be carried out through the support of the United States Agency for International Development in collaboration with the County Government of Busia.
By Salome Alwanda
