The Ministry of agriculture will train staff at county governments on data collection from farmers in order to identify their needs.
Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi on Wednesday said after the training, the staff will be used to collect information about the acreage, location, amount of subsidised fertiliser required among others to help government budget on the farm inputs required.
Addressing farmers during annual field day by Kenya Seed at Elgon Downs farm in Endebess, the CS said subsidised fertiliser will be delivered to all 25 depots in Trans Nzoia to enable farmers access them easily.
He further said science and technology is vital for contemporary agriculture.
The CS also noted that the Ministry of Agriculture aims to make farming completely a business venture.
New seed varieties
He said there is enough subsidised seeds at Kenya Seed and farmers need not to worry about the availability of the essential commodity in maize production.
In addition, Linturi revealed that KALRO has developed cassava which can produce 45 tonnes in an acre.
He added that the same institution has researched and come up with sugarcane variety which matures in a year and asked farmers to take advantage of sugar scarcity to plant the crop.
Moreover, he said the ministry has developed markets for most horticultural commodities, giving an example of avocado which he said he will flag off the first flight for the commodity to India next week.
The minister urged more youths to engage in farming saying currently the average farmer is 60 years.
He lauded the cordial relationship his ministry is enjoying with Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya and his government in promoting agriculture.
Meanwhile, the CS promised a Ksh500,000 award to stephen Kitur, a driver who will represent East Africa at the upcoming World Ploughing Contest, if wins the competition.
He also issued him with Ksh100,000 to cater for expenses in preparation for the contest.
