Crops Development Principal Secretary Paul Rono and Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya flagging off Sunflower seed distribution. Photo/Courtesy
Crops Development Principal Secretary Paul Rono and Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya flagging off Sunflower seed distribution. Photo/Courtesy

Distribution of Free 70,000 Tones Sunflower Seeds To Farmers Launched

The government through the Ministry of Agriculture Tuesday launched the distribution of free sunflower seedlings worth Ksh981 million to farmers in 24 mapped counties.

The national launch was done at the Kenya Seed Company-owned Sunflower factory in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County.

Speaking during the launch, Crops Development Principal Secretary Dr Paul Rono said the initiative is meant to cut down the amount of money used to import edible oil.

As you may be aware, we spend up to Ksh 117 billion every year to import edible oil. This can only reversed through investment in sunflower farming and we are launching distribution of 70,000 metric tonnes of sunflower seeds worth Ksh 981 million,” Rono said.

He further said once the sunflower is ready, the government will identify markets for the produce.

Crops Development Principal Secretary Paul Rono addressing farmers and other agriculture stakeholders in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County
Crops Development Principal Secretary Paul Rono addressing farmers and other agriculture stakeholders in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County on October 18, 2023.

Currently, we locally produce around 80,000 metric tonnes of sunflower and we look forward to producing enough for local consumption as well as for export because we have huge unutilized pieces,” the PS noted.

Warning to cartels

At the same time, the tough-talking PS sounded a warning to cartels who want to sabotage the government’s agenda. He also asked the Ministry of Agriculture employees to diligently serve their clients.

While we warn cartels who are out to sabotage what we’re doing, we also ask government officers especially in my ministry to discharge their duties effectively so that we can help the government achieve food and nutrition security,” Rono warned.

The host Governor George Natembeya said the county has already mapped out 20,000 acres of land for the production of sunflowers and urged farmers to embrace the crop.

Trans Nzoia County is the country’s food basket where 80% of our farmers do maize farming. That notwithstanding, we encourage our farmers to adopt crop diversification. For your information, sunflower is a good cash crop,” Natembeya noted.

Governor George Natembeya at the event.
Governor George Natembeya at the event.

He revealed that once the crop that takes a maximum of three months to mature is ready, the County will aggregate the produce in the ongoing County Aggregation and Industrial Park.

The county boss also appealed to farmers to form cooperative societies so that they could increase their bargaining power and curb the menace of exploitation from middlemen.

The only way to overcome the siege mentality imposed by brokers is through the formation of cooperative societies. This will also make easier the work of our agricultural extension officers,” he said.

Ongoing short rains

Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), chairman Cornelly Serem asked farmers to utilize the short rains to plant early maturing crops.

It is crazy that we spend over Ksh100 billion shillings importing edible oil. That must come to an end and we ask farmers to take advantage of the ongoing short rains,” Serem said.

He added that the seeds will be given out freely.

I know some people are salivating for these seeds; they want to steal but let them be informed that we shall deal with them ruthlessly,” he warned.

Agriculture and Food Authority AFA board chairperson Cornelly Serem
Agriculture and Food Authority AFA board chairperson Cornelly Serem.

Meanwhile, Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi stated that the county surpassed her target in the recently concluded farmers’ registration and profiling programme.

This is a clear indication that our farmers are ready to do their part in the food and nutrition security agenda,” Oyagi said.

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