Embu County distributes 38 tonnes of seeds in semi-arid regions

Women from Nganduri area of Mbeere South sub-county wait to receive seeds from Embu County Government officials on October 5, 2015.

 

The county government has started distributing over 38 tonnes of maize, millet, sorghum and cowpeas to farmers in Mbeere North and Mbeere South.

Governor Martin Wambora said the exercise will enable more farmers to access the input thus help to improve agricultural production in the county.

He said they are providing residents with subsidized fertilizers and certified seeds so as to boost crop production in the region and move away from giving its residents relief food.

"These are seeds of hope for my people to improve the agricultural production, rural income generation, and reach the goal of national food security in the long term," he said at the launch of the exercise in Nganduri area in Mbeti South on Monday.

He said his government is keen in promoting competitive and commercial oriented agriculture through utilization of modern and efficient agricultural technologies.

He said the move is in line with the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) which aims at transforming the county and Embu into a newly industrialized county.

"Agricultural development is key to this transformation since it is a precursor for industrial developments. We will continue to support the agricultural sector," he said.

Wambora said farmers have managed to prepare more land for planting after the county purchased four tilling tractors for hire to farmers in the Mbeere region.

The moulbods tractors that were purchased at a cost of Sh19million are being hired at subsidized rate of Sh 2,300 to plough one hectare of old land, Sh3,000 for virgin land and Sh1,800.

Wambora said the tractors will help mechanize farming so as to enhance food security, income generation and poverty reduction in the semi-arid Mbeere region.

"The project is targeting irrigation oriented parts such as Mutuobare in Kiambeere, Makima, Ishiara and Siakago, where large lands for irrigation and farming are found," he said.

He said they have provided motorcycles which are being used by agriculture extension officers to ease access to farmers to educate them on modern farming methods and veterinary services.

Wambora said the county had constructed a Sh5million modern cereal store with a capacity of 300,000 sacks of 90 kilograms of cereals in Mbonzuki area, Mbeere South Sub County.

The Governor said the area produces a lot of cereals and has large farm sizes adding that area farmers will benefit as they will have a place to store their produce during bumper harvests, thus weed out exploitative middlemen.