By Mahlon Lichuma
Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Mithika Linturi has vowed to ensure farmers get the best of what the government can give as a way to ensure food security.
The CS has also asked all farmers to get registered with the Ministry of Agriculture, a move he said will make it easier for them to access government services and reduce cartels in the sector.
“We are requesting all farmers to get registered as a way to keep tabs on our daily changes and requirements. Anyone who will not be registered cannot be credible to our services as you’ll lack recognition,” said Linturi.
He was speaking during a visit to a 5-hectare farm run by Edwin Ruto, a 35-year-old maize farmer in Kiplombe Ward, Turbo Sub-county.
CS Linturi acknowledged the importance of young people opting for farming rather than embracing white-collar jobs which are scarce.
“It is important that the youths make a shift to farming as a way to reduce unemployment and increase self-employment. There is a low performance of youths in the agricultural sector as most of them are only eyeing competitive career jobs,” he said.
Increase food production
The farm was selected to act as an exhibition site for youths who are opting for farming. CS Linturi has since pledged to provide the youthful farmer with seeds and fertilizer “to boost his production and help him manage food security.”
Ruto who’s a beneficiary of Kenya Kwanza’s 1st phase of Subsidized Fertilizer distribution expects to harvest over 40 bags of maize per acre up from 25 bags.
The youthful farmer has also benefited from the KALRO Extension Program, an e-extension service from which he receives integrated agro-weather and market updates that informs his decisions at the farm level.
Further, Linturi assured farmers that the government is setting up measures to ensure it directly purchases the harvests from them.
“As the government and as a way to reduce the cries by farmers, we are preparing ourselves to shift to an era where we don’t use the brokers who exploit our farmers but we directly purchase the harvests from registered farmers,” the Agriculture CS said.
A majority of farmers in the North Rift region, the country’s food basket are preparing for the harvest season expected within the new few months.In the past, the government has been purchasing maize through the National and Cereals Board (NCPB).
