Agriculture

June 13, 2024

Farmers attended a field day at Wonder Farm in Makindu to learn about innovative agricultural technologies implemented by Phoebe Mwangangi,the farm’s owner, to promote climate-smart agriculture, enhance food security and support sustainable economic growth. 

Key takeaways included:

Minimum Soil Disturbance: Utilizing practices like no-till or reduced-till farming to maintain soil fertility, enhance water retention, and support plant growth.

Deep Tillage: Plowing soil deeper than 12 inches to alleviate compaction, promote root growth, and improve water and nutrient distribution.

Intercropping: Growing multiple crops together in the same field to optimize space, increase yields, enhance soil health, and reduce pests and diseases.

Zai Pits: Employing small planting pits filled with organic matter to boost water retention and soil fertility, thereby increasing crop yields in arid regions.

Mulching:  Covering soil with materials such as straw, leaves, or plastic to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, regulate temperature, and enhance fertility.

Surface Run-off Rainwater Harvesting:  Collecting rainwater from rooftops or impermeable surfaces, directing it into storage for irrigation and household use, thereby conserving water and minimizing erosion.

Planting Drought-Tolerant Crops:  Cultivating crop varieties adapted to thrive with minimal water, crucial for regions susceptible to drought, ensuring consistent crop yields.

The event was organized by the Makueni County Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative Development in collaboration with the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).

June 11, 2024

At least 100 livestock farmers from Kawese Village in Kasikeu Ward have benefited from a free veterinary medical camp aimed at combating diseases exacerbated by recent floods.

The initiative included vaccinations against endemic diseases such as Rift Valley Fever in cattle, sheep, and goats, and Lumpy Skin disease in cattle. Dogs were also vaccinated against rabies to help control dog-mediated human rabies.

In total, 600 cattle, 1200 sheep and goats, and 200 dogs were vaccinated.

Veterinary officers from the Department of Agriculture and Livestock also provided other essential services such as deworming, wound management, and various clinical treatments.

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti on Friday  visited Makueni’s booth during the ongoing South Eastern Kenya National Show at Machakos showground. 

Ndeti was impressed by the various value chains and value additions displayed at the show. She expressed particular amazement that coconuts could thrive in Makueni, and stated her intention to promote this value chain through the South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB).

The four-day event, which started on Wednesday 5th June 2024 features numerous exhibitors showcasing diverse agricultural innovations and technologies under the theme “Promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Economic Growth.”

June 3, 2024

The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative Development has commenced community entry meetings to create awareness of the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) and begin the Participatory Integrated Community Development (PICD) process.

Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua launched the PICD process at Mukuku market in Kako Waia Ward. Similar meetings are taking place across the county and will continue in 4 zones in every ward until June 11, 2024, paving the way for the PICD process.

The purpose of the PICD is to ensure community members participate in identifying issues and problems in target agricultural value chains and generate solutions, including development plans.

The process will culminate in an implementation plan for NAVCDP. NAVCDP is a five-year initiative building on the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) productivity and resilience enhancement efforts that have laid the foundation for market-oriented, commercialized farming.

The project focuses on smallholder farmers either “in transition” or who have “transitioned” from subsistence to commercial farming. The overall goal is to increase market participation and enhance value addition for smallholder farmers.

May 31, 2024

Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua and her Trade counterpart Dr. Sonia Nzilani share moments with Makueni agripreneurs after they completed their induction training in Bungoma.

The Makueni team is part of a larger cohort of over 2,500 agripreneurs who will be officially launched by President William Ruto during the Madaraka Day celebrations tomorrow.

For the next 18 months, they will work through NAVCDP to guide farmers on best agricultural practices, pest management, and irrigation techniques. They will also connect farmers with suppliers for quality inputs and link them to markets to secure fair prices.

The agripreneurs will assist farmers in accessing financial services, support loan applications, and connect them with providers of farm and mechanization services.

The agriprenuer model will regularly track progress, provide feedback for improvement, and maintain accurate records to inform decision-making and planning.

May 30, 2024

A group of 126 agripreneurs from Makueni have kicked off 2-day induction training at Kibabii University in Bungoma, in preparation for their official deployment by President William Ruto during the upcoming Madaraka Day Celebrations.

The agripreneurs were competitively selected from 20 wards implementing the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) in Makueni County. They are part of a broader cohort of 6,600 agripreneurs drawn from 33 counties participating in the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).

For the next 18 months, they will work through NAVCDP to guide farmers on best agricultural practices, pest management, and irrigation techniques. They will also connect farmers with suppliers for quality inputs and link them to markets to secure fair prices. 

The agripreneurs will assist farmers in accessing financial services, support loan applications, and connect them with providers of farm and mechanization services.

The agriprenuer model will  regularly track progress, provide feedback for improvement, and maintain accurate records to inform decision-making and planning.

May 28, 2024

Kwakyai Rural Sacco Limited from Kikumbulyu South is among the over 300 exhibitors showcasing their agricultural technologies at the ongoing Pre-Madaraka Food Security Exhibition at Kibabii University in Bungoma County.

Kwakyai was registered as a Sacco in 2002 with the aim of producing, aggregating, and marketing fruits and vegetables. 

However, they faced significant post-harvest losses due to market instability, prompting them to explore value addition. They decided to focus on drying tomatoes.

In 2017, 110 farmers signed a contract with Ketchup, a  Netherlands based company , to supply 10 tons of produce per week. The farmers received a grant of Ksh. 6 million from the Makueni County NARIGP to upgrade their pack house to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards, enabling compliance with export market standards.

This contract has provided the farmers with stable market prices and increased incomes. In 2023, they achieved gross sales of Ksh. 2.7 million from exported tomatoes.

As the Pre-Madaraka Food Security Exhibition continues, various agricultural stakeholders are advocating for a paradigm shift from traditional agriculture to agribusiness and commercialization. Today’s discussions focus on interventions to enhance agricultural production, productivity, and value addition.

May 27, 2024

Makueni County is participating in the Pre-Madaraka Day Food Security Exhibition, which began today, 27th May, and will continue until 31st May, 2024, in Bungoma County. This exhibition precedes this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations, themed “Agriculture and Food Security.”

The exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, aims to bring together key players in the sector to engage in in-depth discussions, analysis, and exhibitions of strategies and achievements in Kenya’s food security.

Agriculture PS Rono officially launched the exhibition. The theme for Day 1 is “Interventions to Enhance Access and Utilization of Agricultural Sector Inputs.”

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