Agriculture

In the face of unpredictable climate patterns affecting Makueni County, KALRO Kiboko and the Cereal Growers Association CGA) brought regulators, scientists and academia together to witness how science can strengthen food security.

The Wednesday high-level stakeholder engagement focused on Trecepta, a biotechnology jointly developed by KALRO and Bayer Crop Science to protect maize from above-ground insect pests while controlling weeds.

The forum, dubbed “Stawisha Mazao: A Tale of Two Harvests,” followed a Science Meets Policy Roundtable and featured an immersive field visit to a smallholder farmer’s plot and the KALRO Kiboko Confined Field Trial site.

Participants compared the realities farmers face when access to technology is delayed against the proven benefits of science-led innovation. The visit concluded with an on-site dialogue bringing together farmers, researchers, policymakers, regulators, and the media.

Attending the forum, Agriculture CECM Liz Muli said modern agricultural technologies are critical in lowering production costs and building farmer resilience amid climate stress.

KALRO Biotechnology Research Institute Director Dr. Martin Mwirigi emphasized that Trecepta combines proven traits to offer comprehensive protection, helping farmers achieve better yields sustainably.

The engagement marked a deliberate shift from boardroom discussions to field-based evidence, strengthening fact-driven dialogue on agricultural biotechnology in Kenya.

Makueni County has launched a countywide Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination program aimed at controlling outbreaks and improving livestock productivity.

The exercise, officially launched in Makiou, Kilome Sub-County, is being implemented using a digital e-voucher system that registers each head of cattle through a muzzle-based identification process. Farmers will pay a subsidized fee of Ksh. 50 per cow, with all payments conducted online.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, who led the launch, said the program is intended to safeguard farmers’ livelihoods by preventing the spread of the highly contagious disease. She urged livestock farmers to participate fully in the exercise and work closely with their cooperatives to ensure timely vaccination.

The vaccination drive will be rolled out across all wards in the county and coordinated through 13 cooperatives and farmer societies to ensure effective coverage and implementation.

County Executive Committee Members Elizabeth Muli (Agriculture) and Nicholas Nzioka (Devolution), as well as members of the County Assembly Agriculture Committee, attended the launch.

The program is expected to significantly reduce FMD outbreaks and improve milk and meat production in Makueni County.

The Department of Agriculture and Livestock on Thursday concluded a two-day training on the e-voucher Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination model, ahead of its rollout in the county.

The training brought together 40 Veterinary Surgeons(VS) and Veterinary Paraprofessionals (VPPs), alongside representatives from 13 Farmer Producer Organizations (VPOs) where participants were equipped with skills to implement the digital vaccination system smoothly.

Speaking during the closure of the training, CECM for Agriculture and Livestock, Liz Muli, urged Farmer Producer Organization leaders to take the lead in mobilizing farmers to embrace the new system.

She further noted that the digital approach will improve efficiency, transparency and disease control across the county, adding that strong collaboration between service providers and farmer groups is key to protecting livestock and improving productivity in Makueni.

During the registration exercise, farmers will be enrolled on the Mifugo 360 app using their national ID numbers and mobile phone contacts.

Upon successful registration, each farmer will receive an e-voucher worth KSh 50 per cow, issued according to the number of animals presented for vaccination.

The vaccination will be carried out through 13 cooperatives across the county, with farmers registering their livestock online at the nearest cooperative.

The Department of Agriculture on Wednesday held a consultative meeting with CDDC chairpersons, SACCO leaders, Mango lead farmers and the 7 Cooperatives supplying mangoes to the Makueni Fruit Processing Plant to review the mango marketing status of ward-based Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).

The leaders were updated on the current season mango offtake totaling to over 8 million Metric Tonnes and valued at Kshs 260M through exporters, processors and both urban and rural fresh markets.

The forum, attended by County Secretary Dr. Justine Kyambi, focused on practical strategies to manage the ongoing bumper harvest while strengthening collective marketing to safeguard farmer incomes.

Addressing the meeting, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development CECM Liz Muli urged local leaders to mobilize farmers to join organized producer groups which would enable the County Government to negotiate better prices, secure stable markets, and deliver extension services more efficiently.

Dr. Kyambi reaffirmed the county’s commitment to protecting farmers from market exploitation and ensuring fair returns for their produce.

He further emphasized that the initiative aligns with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s agenda of economically empowering households through structured, market-driven agriculture.

The county government will carry out a thorough audit into how savings and credit cooperative societies (Saccos) have been purchasing mangoes, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has said.

Speaking while addressing residents during the commissioning of the Ngaaka Health Centre in Makindu, the governor said the process will audit how the entire process was carried out and warned that anyone found culpable of irregularities in the mango procurement process would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

He said the Kalamba fruit processing plant cannot absorb all mangoes produced in the county, particularly during peak harvest seasons.

To address the gap, the county has deployed additional measures to support the mango value chain, including the use of cold storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses.

Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili has announced that the county government will review the budget for the Makueni Fruit Processing Plant in the next financial year to ensure it continues supporting local farmers. Speaking on Wednesday during an official tour of the facility, Mulili assured farmers in the county that all mangoes collected at the plant are sourced from Makueni county.

She encouraged mango farmers to explore additional markets, including exports, which she said have significant potential for increased off-take.

The Deputy Governor made the remarks while meeting chairpersons of contracted cooperative societies responsible for purchasing mangoes from farmers at the plant.

The Plant has begun large-scale mango processing to create space for increased fruit intake during the peak harvest season. The move follows an overwhelming response from farmers across the county.

So far, the plant has received more than 250 metric tonnes of mangoes and is targeting to receive up to 580 metric tonnes, supported by an allocated budget of KSh 13.9 million.

According to the plant’s Chief Executive Officer, the facility is working with seven cooperative societies mandated to off-take mangoes from farmers across the county. Agriculture Executive Committee Member Elizabeth Muli said a thorough verification process is underway to ensure only genuine Makueni farmers benefit from the programme.

She added that aggressive marketing and farmer sensitisation have resulted in deliveries exceeding capacity at the ripening chambers. Processing is currently ongoing to free up space and allow continued intake, with more mango deliveries expected in the coming week.

Makueni County has intensified mango off-taking through the Makueni County Fruit Development and Marketing Authority (MCFDMA) to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure equitable uptake across all wards.

Speaking during a public participation forum at Kalawani Cold Store and Pack House, Agriculture CECM Liz Muli firmly stated that the county has deliberately structured an allocation for every ward to ensure farmers directly benefit from their produce.

She further committed that the department has established a multi-agency taskforce to strictly verify mango uptake and safeguard local farmers from exploitation and safeguard county farmer interests.

Supporting the initiative, Tulimani Ward MCA Kyalo Mumo assured robust Assembly oversight to ensure Kalamba Processing Plant benefits local farmers.

The sensitization forum organized by Trademark Africa, aims to operationalize the facility, strengthen aggregation, stabilize markets, and advance Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s household economic empowerment agenda.

Farmers in Mtito Andei Ward have received improved Galla goats to enhance livestock productivity and boost household incomes.

The 55 goats, funded through ward projects under the Agriculture Department, are aimed at improving breed quality, increasing resilience to harsh climatic conditions and economic boost.

The issuance exercise, led by Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development Chief Officer Japheth Kiminza together with area MCA Francis Mulwa Mwania, demonstrated a shared commitment to farmer empowerment.

The program aligns with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s agenda to economically empower households and strengthen livestock production across the county.

Are you a mango farmer in Makueni County seeking a reliable and fair market for your produce? The Makueni County Fruit Development and Marketing Authority is now ready to receive mangoes from farmers across the county as from Thursday this week.

Under the new arrangement, contracted cooperatives will purchase mangoes directly from farmers at the farm gate at KSh 19 per kilogram.

In the current financial year, the county government plans to purchase mangoes worth KSh 13.9 million, up from KSh 11 million spent in the previous financial year.

Speaking during a meeting chaired by deputy governor Lucy Mulili at the Kalamba fruit processing plant on Tuesday, CECM for Agriculture Elizabeth Muli said seven contracted cooperatives have been allocated specific zones from which to source mangoes.

Each cooperative is expected to deliver at least 50 metric tonnes of mangoes weekly to the factory which has a daily processing capacity of 70 metric tonnes.

The Authority’s Chief Executive Officer Joseph Kioko reported that at least 60 casual workers have been engaged at the plant during the processing period.

To protect farmers from exploitation by middlemen, who previously purchased produce at low prices, the Authority has introduced official pricing schedules.

These schedules will be signed by farmers upon sale of their produce to ensure transparency and accountability.

The initiative is part of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s administration’s efforts to grow household incomes and promote trade & industrialization through agro processing.