MAKUENI SET TO ROLL OUT MOBILE-BASED AGROECOLOGY SOIL HEALTH PROGRAMME

The Makueni County Department of Agriculture on Thursday convened a forum to roll out the KCEP CRAL SOIL/ILSA programme aimed at enhancing soil health and promoting agroecology through mobile-based access to farm inputs.

The three-year initiative, set to run from 2026 to 2028, brings together county administration officials, agricultural officers, agro-dealers, agroecology service providers, and KALRO. The programme will initially be implemented in three sub-counties, with Sub-County and Ward Agricultural Officers playing a key role in its rollout.

Supported by the European Union, the programme builds on Makueni County’s strong performance during the first phase of KCEP-CRAL. It targets 2,700 farmers for agroecology e-voucher inputs, while an additional 6,500 farmers will benefit from agroecology training. The initiative seeks to increase farm productivity, expand access to subsidized inputs, strengthen county agroecology systems, and improve food and nutrition security.

Speaking during the forum, CECM for Agriculture Elizabeth Muli said the initiative demonstrates the county government’s commitment to improving soil health, promoting sustainable agroecology practices, and empowering farmers through innovative, mobile-based input access.

On his part, KCEP-CRAL Eastern Region Coordinator Patrick Hinga said Makueni’s exemplary performance in earlier programme phases informed its selection, noting that the initiative will enhance farmer resilience, scale up agroecology adoption, and strengthen institutional capacity within the county.