Dairy and poultry farmers in Kiambu have benefited after Farm Kenya together with the County Government held an open day expo to sensitize them on ways to improve productivity and how to add value in their farming.
The two day event that was held at Ndumberi Stadium Kiambu County, saw about 20 exhibitors showcasing their different products and advising farmers on ways they can best improve dairy and poultry farming.
Speaking during the event, David Wamwea, County Executive for Trade, Industrialization, Tourism, Investment and Cooperative Development in Kiambu County said that the County is happy to partner with Farm Kenya and Standard Group for the expo, so that Kiambu farmers can acquire more skills and knowledge to better their livestock farming.
“We as a County are working closely with all the farmers, to ensure that they have the support they need. Through the expo we have seen what we can do with products that we have in our farms for value addition and this is what we need in-order to grow ourselves and our economy,” he said.
Wamwea added that through the 22 dairy cooperatives in the County that help Dairy farmers to aggregate milk production and value addition there has been an increase in production.
“Kiambu County is leading in milk production in the Country with 430 million liters being produced annually. We have supplied our farmers with coolers, milk pasteurizers and we will also equip them with more machinery, so that we can have proper value addition equipment’s,” he promised.
Wamwea invited more organizations to partner with the County, to come help grow the agricultural sector.
May Bomet, the Brand Executive at Farm Kenya, told KNA that the expo is important as farmers always want to gain more knowledge on farming.
“Farmers are hungry for knowledge and that is why the importance of organizing this expo and particularly in Kiambu County because there are a lot of Dairy and Poultry farmers,” she said.
Bomet added that most farmers struggle with management of livestock from pests and diseases, housing for the dairy and poultry farms and ways to improve production. She, however, noted that by the end of the expo farmers will have learned ways on how they can improve in their farming.
“Farm Kenya holds training monthly for farmers across the Country and with our online content that has attracted quite a number of viewers we believe that farmers are getting as much needed information as they should. We also connect farmers with various stakeholders in the farming business,” she added.
Bomet encouraged more youths to involve themselves in farming by attending the various training programs that they carry out across the country.
By Evalyne Kamau
