The County government of Uasin Gishu has lauded efforts by the Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya limited, PPCK, to revive the pyrethrum sector in the county.
County Executive Committee Member, CECM, for Agriculture Samuel Yego praised PPCK for the move saying it will go a long way towards improving food security apart from providing regular alternative income to farmers in the county who depend on maize and wheat for most of their income.
Speaking in his Eldoret office when he hosted PPCK officials who are in the county to map out ways towards reviving the pyrethrum sector, CEC said reintroducing pyrethrum farming will give farmers an alternative to grain farming.
Yego said his department will set aside funds to support the program saying more farmers were interested in the re-establishment of pyrethrum across the region.
In its effort to revive the sector, PPCK will provide farmers with planting materials, help the farmers in establishing pyrethrum nurseries, as well as provide extension services and construction of solar dryers in the county.
The county director for Agriculture, Reuben Seroney said with a production of between 400 and 500 kilograms of dry flowers per acre annually and selling at an average of Sh. 270 a kilogramme a farmer can make between Sh. 108,000 and Sh. 135,000 per acre per year, and urged farmers who are interested in the program to seek advice from the agricultural extension officers in their respective wards.
By Kiptanui Cherono
