The County Government of Uasin Gishu has announced plans to provide mobile driers to farmers who are currently harvesting.
Governor Jonathan Bii says the plan is part of their efforts to address post-harvest loses that farmers are likely to incur during the anticipated El Nino rains.
Bii notes that the driers will be availed to farmers through collaboration with the national government.
“This move will address the reduction of moisture content and the establishment of aggregation stores in our sub-counties,” the Governor said.
He further asked farmers to aggregate their maize and discouraged them from the need to sell their produce at a low price, “enabling them to bargain for better prices for their hard-earned produce.”
Some of the farmers have already incurred post-harvest loses following a recent heavy rainfall in the county.
Pre El Nino effects
The county’s Agriculture Department reports that nearly 100 acres of maize and wheat were affected with the pre El Niño events that affected maize and wheat farmers in Moiben Sub County.
“60 per cent of the damage was on wheat farms due to massive hailstorms,” the Uasin Gishu Governor said.
A few months ago, farmers in Megun and Ng’enyilel also suffered losses due to strong winds that destroyed beans and maize.
Uasin Gishu is among counties the Kenya Meteorological Department has listed as those that will receive above average rainfall from October sto December.
Farmers in the county are currently harvesting their maize.
It is estimated that at least 6.6 million bags of maize will be harvested this season in the county – courtesy of timely availability of subsidized planting and top dressing fertilizer.
Meanwhile, Governor Bii says his administration will be distributing 40,000 kilograms of free sunflower seeds – a move aimed at ensuring farmers maximize on the ongoing rains.
“I encourage our farmers to take advantage of this is an opportunity to plant short term crops. For dairy farmers, this is an ideal moment to improve milk productivity due to the availability of pasture for their animals,” the Governor said.
