Linturi: Agriculture Ministry to Collect Farmers Data, Promises Sh 500k to Kitur If he Wins World Ploughing Competition
The Ministry of agriculture will train staff at county governments on data collection from farmers in order to identify their needs.
Cabinet secretary Mithika Linturi on Wednesday said after the training,the staff will be used to collect information about the acrage,location,amount of subsidised fertiliser required among others to help government budget on the farm inputs required.
Addressing farmers during annual field day by Kenya seed at Elgon Downs farm in Endebess,the CS said subsidised fertiliser will be delivered to all 25 depots in Trans Nzoia to enable farmers access them easily.
He said science and technology is vital for contemporary agriculture.
The CS said the ministry of agriculture aims to make farming completely a business venture.
He said there is enough subsidised seeds at Kenya seed and farmers need not to worry about the availability of the essential commodity in maize production.
The minister noted that KALRO has developed cassava which can produce 45 tonnes in an acre.
He added that the same institution has researched and come up with sugarcane variety which matures in a year and asked farmers to take advantage of sugar scarcity to plant the crop.
The ministry Linturi said has developed markets for most horticultural commodities and gave an example of avocado which he will flag off the first flight for the commodity to India next week.
The minister urged more youths to engage in farming saying currently the average farmer is 60 years.
He lauded the cordial relationship his ministry is enjoying with Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya and his government in promoting agriculture.
Linturi promised a sh.500,000 award to stephen Kitur,a mechanized driver who will represent East Africa at the world ploughing contest if he wins the competition.
He issued him with sh.100,000 cash to cater for expenses in preparation for the contest.
Present were Kenya seed MD Sammy Chepsiror,Kitale Diocese Catholic Bishop Henry Odonya,all company directors led by chairperson Purity Ngirici,Trans Nzoia CECM for agriculture phanice Khatundi,other agriculture stakeholders among others.
The theme of this year’s field day is promoting affordable climate resilient seeds for food security and Nutrition.
Post Author
