Close to 144,700 farmers in Machakos County have benefited from 130 tonnes of assorted certified seeds from the County Government in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Kenya Red Cross.
Governor Wavinya Ndeti, said out of the total supply of the seeds, the County Government procured 110 tonnes of certified maize and bean seeds, to enhance food security and improve the livelihoods of farmers.
“This intervention is meant to put an end to the perennial hunger cycles that we have experienced over the years. It also aims to put to an end the over-reliance on relief food,” said Wavinya.
Speaking outside her office, when she launched the free seeds programme, the Governor urged the beneficiaries to prepare their farms early, in anticipation of the impending short rains.
“I ask farmers to plant early, I also caution them not to sell the seeds. There is an acute shortage of certified seeds in the country and it has taken my government three months to procure the certified seeds,” she added.
The Governor disclosed that the County Government had adopted an integrated approach in putting in place innovative strategies to increase food production in the County.
“We are also distributing 255 mango and avocado seedlings in each Sub-location besides desilting of 75 earth dams, to boost the county’s irrigation capacity and ensure food supply during the dry-spell season,” said Wavinya.
The Governor also disclosed that the Department of Agriculture, has procured 254 beehives and six honey-processing machines, that will be distributed to identified farmer groups across the 30 wards.
“Bees play an important role in the pollination process and in turn lead to increased productivity,” she said.
Speaking at the same event, County Executive Committee Member (ECM) for Agriculture, Joel Nzomo, said the certified seeds issued, will be planted on 11,555 acres of land and will produce 110,000 bags worth half a billion shillings.
“The intervention will not only ensure farmers have enough food for domestic use, but will also be a source of income through the selling of the surplus produce,” said Nzomo.
The ECM said 86 drop-off points have been established across the County, where the target beneficiaries will receive the seeds.
“The beneficiaries are farmers from poor households and the seeds should not be diverted to undeserving individuals,” he cautioned.
Nzomo decried the increase of counterfeit seeds in the market and urged farmers to buy certified seeds from authorized dealers.
” As a County, we are very alert on substandard seeds and we will not allow such in the market. We, however, call for due diligence from farmers, when buying the seeds,” added the ECM.
On infestation of pests, Nzomo said the Department has been carrying out surveillance across the county.
“We have dispatched a land cruiser that will help extension officers, to offer timely intervention services, whenever required, “he added.
On the ongoing registration of farmers, the ECM said, already 180,994 households have been captured in the exercise being conducted by 569 enumerators and 26 supervisors.
“According to the last census, the County has 231,000 farmer households. The registration exercise is at 78 per cent and we hope to have capture every farmer, when the exercise ends next week,” said Nzomo.
He, however, appealed to farmers not to shy away from the registration.
“We have noticed that in some areas, farmers do not want to be registered, there is no need to fear the exercise,” added the ECM.
