Small-scale farmers in Migori have been urged to utilize agriculture-based government facilities and equipment to reduce post-harvest losses.
Kenya Industrial Research Development Institute (KIRDI) Migori Official Neil Okumu called upon the county residents to utilise the Migori-KIRDI facility and its installed equipment to safeguard their produce and minimize post-harvest losses.
The facility, located on the outskirts of Migori town, has a cereal dryer for drying soybeans, groundnuts, sunflowers, millet, and sorghum; a mixer for animal, poultry, and fish feeds and other post-harvest equipment.
Ms. Okumu, who trained a farmer’s group from Suna East Sub-County, encouraged other farmers to visit the facility to learn about value chain addition and market linkages to increase profits and grow their businesses.
She said that the continuous food research by KIRDI will equip farmers with skills and knowledge on how to improve their production through different value chains to promote the agricultural sector and make Kenya food secure.
“We are encouraging small-scale farmers, groups and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) to always seek advice from KIRDI on areas of food research, processing, market links and business compliance to safeguard food security,” said the official.
Apart from helping cereal farmers, the institution has also been supporting sweet potato, pepper and honey producers on value chain addition through trainings, capacity building and market linkages.
She said that the organisation has always strived to ensure that what is produced by farmers is of good quality, standardised and certified for both local, regional and international markets.
The official also explained that they have been supporting farmers to showcase their products during exhibitions, showgrounds, and other government platforms like Micro, Small and medium enterprise platforms across the country to commercialise farmers’ products and link them to a wider market reach.
Migori County Youth Representative Bernard Odhiambo pointed out that his office has been assisting youths and women to seek financial assistance to grow and expand their agricultural businesses.
Odhiambo is currently working with more than 250 farmers, comprising mainly of youths and women, by helping them to access funds through avenues like the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC).
According to Odhiambo, the KIRDI trainings will empower the youths on value chain addition, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) certification process and market access to their products.
Rose Okinyi, a farmer from Suna East Sub-County, affirmed that the KIRDI trainings have not only empowered her in the value chain addition but also opened doors for a wider market reach.
Ms. Okinyi, a cereal farmer and honey producer, says that she has been doing quite well in her line of farming, and thanks to her group members with empowerment from KIRDI, she believes she will expand her business beyond Migori County.
“It feels good to be economically empowered; my farming business has changed the lives of people around me, brought joy to my family, created employment for my neighbours and generated more income,” she affirmed.
By Makokha Khaoya
