Trans Nzoia Deputy Governor Dr. Stanley Tarus has called on residents to embrace crop diversification so as to uplift their living standards.
Speaking during the launch of the Green Employment in Agriculture Program which is implemented by the Micro-Enterprise Support Program Trust (MESPT) at KTL farm in Kitalale, Dr. Tarus said that over reliance on maize has corroded the county’s food security.
The deputy governor applauded the initiative made by MESPT in promoting four Agricultural Value Chains that the county is implementing. These include indigenous chicken rearing, dairy farming, maize, and banana/avocados crop husbandry.
MESPT is a development organization with the purpose to grow smallholder farmers and Agri SME’s to increase productivity, income and enhance competitiveness for job creation especially for youth and women.
This is achieved through a capacity building which includes skills development, technical support, business advisory, financial and market linkages.
The Trust is a multi-donor entity jointly founded by the Government of Kenya and the Royal Danish Embassy in Kenya, (DANIDA).
MESPT head of finance and administration Mr. Charles Nyawade on the other hand said as the organization celebrates 20 years of its existence, it intends to increase the commercial side of farmer enterprise, improve food safety in the country and increase access to finance by smallholder farmers and SMEs.
