Farmers in Makueni County have been advised to take advantage of the ongoing Agricultural show at Makindu town and learn new technologies, with a view to improving food production in the area.
Makueni County Deputy Governor (DG) Lucy Mulili said that besides using the emerging technologies, there are also new varieties of maize, pigeon peas and sorghum that will enable farmers to increase their farm produce within a short period.
Mulili further she said farmers will also earn huge profits, once they implement the new technologies and plant the right certified seeds, as advised by agricultural officers in the area.
“I appeal to the county residents wherever they are to come and learn. They should come as a family and ensure they practice what they learn,” said Mulili when she officially opened the Agricultural show that will come to a close Saturday.
“Through using the right technologies and planting the certified seeds from Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), you will make huge profits in less than five months,” she added.
The deputy governor equally reminded farmers that by coming to the agricultural show, they will get an opportunity to interact with those who make farm inputs and learn how to use the chemicals appropriately.
On budgetary matters, Mulili disclosed that the government will ensure there was adequate money allocated for exhibitions every year, so that the local farmers can learn how to boost food security.
This year’s Makindu agriculture show was themed, “Promoting Climate Smart Agriculture.”
Speaking at the same event, Makueni County Assembly Speaker Douglas Mbilu said that there are good soils in the county and promised to ensure more money is allocated to the Department of Agriculture to enhance irrigation farming in the area.
“In Makueni we have fertile soils, but farmers lack water to do farming. As an Assembly, we need to increase budgetary allocation to construct dams to supply water to our farmers to enable them do irrigation farming in an effort to enhance food production and make the county food secure,” said Mbilu.
On his part, the South Eastern Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) Chairperson Lawrence Matolo said that his organization conducts seminars to educate the youths to ensure they get involved in farming activities in the country.
Also Present at the show were the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture Elizabeth Muli and her Counterparts for ICT, Education and Internship, Devolution and Gender Japheth Mang’oka, Nicholas Nzioka and Eng. Sabastian Kyoni respectively, among other government officials.
By Patrick Nyakundi
