Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago launched distribution 75,000 Avocado seedlings valued at 33.75 Million Shillings.
Speaking at Eldoret Showground, The Governor urged farmers to take good care of their crops.
” If you have requested for 100 seedlings, my administration is giving you seedling subsidy worth Kshs 45,000 “, Mandago said.
A certified avocado seedling costs Kshs 450.
“We have sourced high quality seeds to ensure fast maturity. We urge our farmers to work closely with Ward Agricultural Officers in ensuring farmers produce export quality fruits”, Mandago said.
This year’s Avocado seedling subsidy will benefit 2626 farmers across the county, covering 925 acres.
Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno urged farmers to diversify in order to protect themselves from losses when one crop fails.
” We encourage farmers to focus on high value crops to benefit from foreign trade”, Chemno added.
In 2021 alone, the department of Agriculture has received request for 87,000 avocado seedlings against the 75,000 set to be given out. To this, Governor Mandago urged farmers to request more allocation towards diversification through public participation.
” We are happy with the response from farmers. My department has enhanced farmer training programs to help farmers improve agriculture as an economic venture “, County Executive Samuel Yego ( Agriculture) said.
His Finance counterpart CPA Julius Ruto, also present, stated that Uasin Gishu County has complied to Maputo Declaration and now allocates over 10% of the total budgetary allocation to Agricultural development.
Area MCA Amos Kiptanui thanked the farmers for their increasing uptake of promotional crop programs.
The MCA was echoing Chief Officer Julius Rotich’s sentiments that a total of 108,000 avocado seedlings had been distributed to farmers by the end of Calendar year 2020.
James Bore, an Avocado farmer from Tarakwa Ward, Kesses Sub-county urged fellow farmers to embrace fruit farming.
” One Avocado tree yields 500 fruits. If you have 100 of them, you harvest 50,000 fruits. Even if you sell a fruit at Kshs 10 you make half a million shilling from one acre. “, Bore Said. The farmer compared an acre of maize which only realizes a maximum of Kshs 100,000 per acre.