The County Government of Bomet, has embarked on the distribution of potato vines for growing by farmers in a bid to enhanced food crop production in the area.
Already, over 250,000 bio-fortified sweet potato vines had been given out to 500 farmers across the County, with the County government focused on supporting farmers to boost food security, improving nutrition, and increasing household incomes.
The flagging-off of the potato vine distribution exercise was led by the County Director of Agriculture, David Korir, alongside ‘HarvestPlus’ Officer, Gideon Kipchumba.
The distribution was conducted across Kipsonoi, Kongasis, and Sigor wards, where farmers received planting materials ahead of the planting season and in Kipsonoi Ward, beneficiaries were drawn from Kapangoror, while farmers from Nyatembe and Kesosio benefited in Kongasis Ward.
In Sigor Ward, the vines were distributed to farmers from Kosia and Tumoi with Korir urging the farmers to consider diversifying crop production for nutrition, climate change mitigation and income generation.
Speaking during the exercise, the County Director of Agriculture urged farmers to plant the vines promptly and adopt recommended agronomic practices to maximize yields.
He noted that bio fortified sweet potatoes were a valuable crop that contributes to food security, improved nutrition, and income generation through the sale of both fresh produce and value-added products.
The distribution of the vines alongside other crop seeds and seedlings underscores the county government’s commitment to supporting farmers with quality planting materials and promoting sustainable agricultural production.
The initiative is expected to contribute to better harvests, improved household nutrition, and enhanced livelihoods for the beneficiary farmers.
by Erick Ongeri
