Agriculture

Makueni County has received a donation of advanced laboratory kits to enhance the testing of agricultural produce for safety and quality standards for consumption.

The donation made by Micro-Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT), a public organization that supports small and medium enterprises, is funded by the European Union in partnership with the Danish Embassy (DANIDA).

The equipment that will be used by the county’s agricultural laboratory technical officer includes a milk analyzer, an antibiotic test kit, aflatoxin test kit and computers.

These kits will help detect harmful contaminants in farm produce, which include aflatoxin in maize, pesticide residues in horticultural products, and excess lactose in dairy items.

The donation was officially received by the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development, Joyce Mutua.

Mutua expressed appreciation for the support, noting that the new lab equipment will play a crucial role in safeguarding public health and improving the quality of agricultural products in the county.

The county collaboration with MESPT aims to strengthen agricultural value chains, providing agribusiness with the tools and resources needed to meet commercial standards and enhance the safety of food products.

A group of farmers and Agri-preneurs drawn from across the county, along with members of the Makueni County Assembly’s Agriculture Sectoral Committee visited the Yatta Christian Impact Mission (CIM) farm on Thursday for a one-day benchmarking tour.

The tour was aimed to learn about innovative and sustainable agricultural technologies, and explore sustainable farming practices that can help improve productivity.

Farmers were offered an opportunity to discuss modern farming methods and learnt ways of improving agricultural productivity in an eco-friendly way. Additionally, they explored various demonstration farms growing crops like onions, maize, sunflower, paw paws, bananas and kitchen garden setups.

Speaking during the tour, CIM Proprietor Bishop Masika encouraged farmers to make farming activity an all-round year activity by investing in storing water. Masika further stated, “endeavour in commercializing farming for economic empowerment.”

Leading the team, the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture Joyce Mutua urged farmers to put the knowledge gained into practice and share it with others in the county. “The skills learned here have the potential to transform Makueni’s agriculture sector and improve the livelihoods of our farmers,” she said.

Mutua was flanked by Majority Leader Hon. Kisungi Katete, Hon. Francis Mutuku, Chairperson of the Agriculture Committee, other Committee members and Chief Officers Japheth Kiminza and Dr. Victoria Kyalo.

A total of 30 Community-Driven Development Committees (CDDCs) from across the county are currently undergoing a specialized administrative training program aimed at enhancing their understanding of institutional roles and responsibilities.

The committees, each formed by representatives from the agricultural value chain sectors of poultry, mango, tomato, apiculture and dairy farming are being prepared to serve as key links between the NAVCDP (National Agricultural Value Chain Development Program) and the local communities.

The training which began earlier this week is structured into six cohorts, with each cohort representing five wards. As of now, 20 wards have completed their sessions and the training is expected to wrap up by the third week of November for the remaining wards.

The goal of the CDDCs is to promote better governance and enhance community participation in agricultural value chain development, which is crucial for economic growth and improved livelihoods in the county.

During the training, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative Development Joyce Mutua emphasized the department’s commitment to supporting farmers. She further urged participants to focus on commercializing farming as a way to boost the county’s agricultural economy and improve market access for local produce.

The CECM was accompanied by Mary Muteti, the County Director for Agriculture, who also highlighted the importance of these committees in strengthening local agricultural initiatives and fostering sustainable development.

Makueni mango farmers’ representatives and buyers came together on Thursday to prepare for the upcoming mango marketing season. The meeting, organized by the county agriculture department aimed to establish clear purchasing guidelines for mangoes from local farmers.

During the discussions, buyers shared their planned purchase quantities and price ranges, offering between Ksh. 12 and 25 per kilogram of mangoes. The prices will vary, with local markets receiving the lowest rates and exporters providing the highest.

Attending the meeting, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative Development CECM Joyce Mutua urged farmers to hold firm and avoid selling their mangoes at low prices. “Our department is dedicated to ensuring that farmers receive fair value for their hard work,” she emphasized.

She added, “This collaboration between farmers and buyers is expected to strengthen the mango industry in Makueni, benefiting all stakeholders involved.”

Ms. Mutua was accompanied by Chief Officers Japheth Kiminza and Dr. Victoria Kyalo.

Makueni County is poised to gain significantly in agricultural education with the proposed establishment of a Kenya School of Agriculture campus at Kwa-Kathoka.

This is following a public participation meeting held on Monday by stakeholders drawn from Agricultural, Administrative, Business and Education sectors to discuss the project, which will be managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

The campus will offer diploma programs and skill-based short courses, designed specifically to meet the needs of local farmers and the regional economy.

Speaking during the forum, County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development Joyce Mutua emphasized the positive impact on farmers’ skills and local job opportunities that will be created upon establishment of the institution.

The Makueni campus is part of a national plan to expand agricultural education, with four additional campuses slated for Busia, Meru, Kericho, and Kilifi counties.

The meeting featured contributions from various stakeholders including Eng. Gordon Nyakiti from the Kenya School of Agriculture, Chief Officers Japheth Kiminza and Dr. Victoria Kyalo and Majority Leader Hon. Kisungi Wa Katete. They were joined by County Assembly members Hon. Francis Mutuku and Hon. Elizabeth Kawembe, all of whom voiced their strong support for the establishment of the new campus.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Sunday officially launched the ready-to-drink Kalamba fruit juice during the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Matiliku, Makueni Sub-County.

Governor Kilonzo announced that the County will continue to sell mango puree locally and for export, while the remaining produce will be processed into ready-to-drink juice.

Agriculture County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Joyce Mutua disclosed that the Kalamba production line has been linked to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stamp duty system, and the final product has received full certification from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).

She said the County has implemented a quality assurance program to ensure consistent product quality. Additionally, a distribution point for the juice has been established at Green Park, Wote, with plans to stock it in supermarkets and various points of sale soon.

Mutua further noted that the County has identified value-chain champions in every Ward to support mango farmers by facilitating the off-take of their produce at designated aggregation centres.

To regulate the mango trade, all mango buyers in Makueni will now be required to obtain a movement permit, in addition to paying cess, to ensure fair distribution of trade across all areas.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has distributed 9.7 tons of certified maize seeds to farmers in Kilungu ward during a working tour of Kaiti Sub-county on Thursday.

Mutula said his administration is keen on maximising food production through growing the appropriate variety of crops in the wake of projected depressed October-November-December rains.

Mutula also inspected the construction progress of Ilovoto water project, which will benefit more than 3,300 residents of Kilungu ward when complete.

Governor Mutula is accompanied by a number of MCAs among them Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Jonathan Muthoka, deputy minority leader Sarah Mbilo, Eng. Jackson Ndolo (Ukia) and Kilungu MCA Joseph Mbidnyo.