The county government of Nakuru, through the department of agriculture, has partnered with Enigma Four Limited, an agritech solution organization in a bid to provide enhanced extension services to farmers for better farm produce.
Speaking during it’s official launch at a Nakuru hotel, the County Executive for Agriculture, Leonard Bor said that this will go a long way in boosting productivity and improving on the food security concern, as well as better income that will elevate the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Having over 300 officers within the county serving in the various 55 wards, Bor noted that they will be exposed to capacity-building trainings so that they are updated with the current agricultural trends, technology and innovations.
This will ensure that the officers are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively provide the enhanced extension services to the farmers.
According to the Enigma Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Brian Oyugi, this is a first pilot test of the program, which intends to cover 25 wards spread across Molo, Njoro, Nakuru East, Nakuru West, Rongai, Subukia, Kuresoi North and Kuresoi South Sub-Counties.
Oyuigi observed that in the past, data has been fragmented, thus the need to have it harnessed and put into one place so that it becomes easier to provide meaningful solutions to the farmers’ issues.
Through Agrivuma, the officers will be equipped with soil testing gadgets, a terminal device that can collect information in form of a video, photo, or audio, among other digital tools that will enable them collect data-backed insights and personalize it to the various farmers they will be attending to.
The organization uses data pipelines and data collection terminals issued to extension officers to capture real-time farm and farmer data, which is then transmitted to the authorities in charge to take actionable insights and provide any additional supporting service to a farmer and this will help boost productivity.
By Emily Kadzo
