Kwale County Government has started distributing free agricultural inputs and quality seeds to smallholder farmers as rains pound various parts of the coastal county.
Area Deputy Governor (DG) Chirema Kombo flagged off the distribution of certified seeds and fertilizers to small-holder farmers and residents of Kwale at the county headquarters.
He said the flagging off of the distribution of fertilizers and seeds to farmers in the area was part of measures taken by the county to ensure bumper harvests by farmers during this rainy season.
“We are taking advantage of the ongoing rains to issue seeds and fertilizers to our farmers so that they can plant and get food for their day-to-day consumption and also for sale,” said Kombo.
He went on to say, “This is part of efforts by the devolved government to reduce the cost of production and strengthen food security’.
The DG said some of the other inputs were growth enhancers, sprayers, organic fertilizer, and pesticides.
DG Kombo says the county has been supportive to its residents through the issuance of seeds and fertilizers and also by providing tractors that plough farms at subsidized rates.
Kombo, who was accompanied by County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries Roman Shera, says 300 mango seedlings were also issued to the Nyalani dam farmers in Kinango Sub County to boost the growing of fruit trees.
“More seedlings of mango and orange will also be distributed to farmers in Matuga, Msambweni, and Lunga Lunga subcounties,” he said, adding that the move would ensure food and nutrition security and create jobs for the youth.
“This free agricultural input initiative is set to assist residents of Kwale in cushioning hunger pangs that have hit hard due to the lack of rainfall for a long period of time,” he said, adding that local farmers were coming out of a long drought spell caused by delayed rains.
He went further: “With the resumption of rains, it is our expectation that the coming harvest will bring good returns.”
Mr. Roman Shera says the county has supported local farmers with tractors to prepare their land and farm inputs to improve output.
The Agriculture Executive urged farmers to plant crops that take a shorter period of time to mature as the county prepares for long rains.
Mr. Shera urged the beneficiaries to utilize the gesture for the purpose for which it was meant, in order to complement the devolved governments’ agricultural drive in the county.
He explained that the purpose of the programme was to help local farmers boost their farm production in the area.
By Hussein Abdullahi
