Farmers, agricultural stakeholders, government officials, development partners and agribusiness companies converged at the Ematete Agribusiness Centre in Vihiga County for the fifth Ematete Agribusiness Farmers Field Day to promote climate-smart agriculture, innovation and sustainable agribusiness development.
The event, held on Friday under the theme “Enhancing Climate-Smart Agriculture and Agribusiness Innovation,” attracted hundreds of farmers from across the county who interacted with agricultural experts, viewed modern farming technologies and learned practical approaches to improving productivity while adapting to the effects of climate change.
The field day was presided over by Vihiga County Chief Officer for Agriculture Betty Mulianga, who urged farmers to embrace climate-smart agricultural practices to safeguard food production amid increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
She said agriculture remains the backbone of Vihiga County’s economy and encouraged farmers to adopt improved seed varieties, efficient water management technologies and modern production methods to increase yields and household incomes.
“Climate change is no longer a future challenge but a present reality. We must adopt innovative farming methods that protect the environment while increasing productivity and improving farmers’ incomes,” Mulianga said.
She assured farmers that the county government remains committed to strengthening agricultural extension services, supporting agribusiness development and working with development partners to improve food security and economic growth.
Mulianga noted that extension officers continue to equip farmers with knowledge on sustainable farming practices, soil conservation, crop diversification and climate adaptation to help them cope with changing weather conditions.
Mwibona Ward Member of the County Assembly Zakayo Manyasa urged residents to embrace commercial agriculture by viewing farming as a business rather than a subsistence activity.
He said equipping farmers with modern knowledge, technologies and entrepreneurial skills would create employment opportunities, improve household incomes and strengthen food security within the county.
Manyasa challenged young people to venture into agribusiness, saying agriculture offers numerous opportunities for wealth creation through crop production, livestock farming, value addition and agricultural marketing.
The event featured exhibitions by farmers, agribusiness companies and agricultural organisations showcasing improved crop varieties, livestock products, certified seeds, farm machinery, irrigation technologies, value-added agricultural products and climate-smart farming innovations.
Farmers also demonstrated practical farming techniques, giving participants an opportunity to observe and learn best practices that can be replicated to improve productivity and resilience on their own farms.
The Cereals Growers Association (CGA), led by Benson Omukhago, highlighted its efforts to strengthen cereal production through farmer training, access to quality farm inputs, collective marketing and promotion of climate-smart agricultural practices.
Omukhago encouraged farmers to adopt improved cereal production technologies, diversify their farming enterprises and strengthen producer organisations to enhance bargaining power and improve market access.
He said empowering farmers with technical knowledge and reliable markets is essential for building resilient and profitable agricultural value chains capable of withstanding climate-related challenges.
Seed Co representatives, led by Benjamin Kidigi, exhibited a range of certified and improved seed varieties developed to help farmers increase productivity and adapt to changing climatic conditions.
Kidigi educated farmers on the importance of using certified seeds, observing proper crop management practices and selecting crop varieties suited to different ecological zones to maximise yields.
He urged farmers to embrace improved seed technologies as an effective way of increasing food production, enhancing household food security and improving farm profitability.
The field day also strengthened partnerships between farmers, government agencies, private companies, financial institutions and agricultural organisations through discussions on market access, sustainable agriculture, climate resilience and agribusiness innovation.
Participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to interact directly with experts and exhibitors, saying the event equipped them with practical knowledge, new technologies and market information that would help improve farm productivity and increase household incomes.
The event concluded with renewed calls for sustained collaboration among government, development partners, research institutions, private sector players and farming communities to accelerate agricultural transformation, strengthen climate resilience and promote sustainable food production in Vihiga County.
By Henry Ananda and Kelly Barasa
