For the last few years, outgoing Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago and his deputy Daniel Chemno have been asking locals to embrace diversification in their farming.
The county has been known for wheat and maize farming but farmers had nothing to show for it – even with the region being considered the country’s food basket.
And with a drop in market prices and an increase in production cost, Mandago and his deputy launched a campaign aimed at convincing the farmers to venture into high-value crops such as macadamia, coffee, avocado and tissue bananas.
However, this campaign at first received criticism and some farmers resisted it – with some boldly claiming ‘hatuwezi kula avocado’.
But as time went by and reality sunk in, the farmers slowly came back to their senses and started embracing diversification.
Today, as Chemno prepares to hand over to his successor Eng. John Barorot lists diversification as one of the successes that the current administration will be proud of.
Avocado farming
“We have helped out farmers embrace diversification which we believe will help transform our locals’ economy in the near future. With more high-value crops planted in the country, there will be more malls as people will have more money in their pockets,” the deputy county boss told Uasin Gishu News on Monday, August 22, 2022.
Although he will be out of his position starting this August 25, 2022, when the new deputy governor will be sworn in, Chemno says he will continue spreading the diversification gospel.
“I have served my ten years which I have been asking farmers to plant crops like avocados. I will go home and continue spreading that message because I believe it is the right direction our farmers need to follow,” he noted.
Chemno himself is walking the talk – he has an avocado farm in his rural Ainabkoi home.
“I have not so many avocado trees. I am a farmer and I urge locals in Ainabkoi and Kesses to plant avocado, coffee, macadamia and pyrethrum so that they can change their lives,” he insists.
