There's gold in silkworms.
That's what Trade and Industrialism CS Betty told North Rift farmers, urging them to not only diversify from maize to avocado and passion fruit but also to venture into silkworm farming.
Farmers have depended for too long on maize and need to diversify to higher-yielding crops, she said on Tuesday in Eldoret.
She urged them to plant mulberry trees, which silkworms feed on, as demand for silk is high. Silk is the raw material for some of the world's most expensive clothes.
Farmers in Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet and Nandi counties have relied on maize as their economic mainstay. Now they should diversify to other, high-yielding crops to improve their income, she said.
While touring small and medium industries in Uasin Gishu, Maina said the upcoming African Economic Zone (AEZ) industrial park will provide opportunities for silkworm growers.
A Chinese investor plans to build a silk processing factory in the AEZ that will provide a ready market. China is the world's largest silk producer and the investor is from Guangdong, China.
The investor already has started a pilot project for silk farming and mulberry tree seedlings are readily available for farmers wishing to venture to silkworm production.
The CS launched the Agrohub at Moi's Bridge. It will enhance the food value chain in Kenya's breadbasket by reducing post-harvest losses incurred by farmers for lack of market and proper storage.
The Agrohub is spearheaded by the family of former Eldoret North MP Reuben Cheshire, now deceased. It will facilitate agro-industrial businesses and offer tailor-made solutions to the business community.
The CS said Kenya should not only rely on foreign investors to develop its industries.
"Our local investors are venturing into manufacturing and industry anchored on Vision 2030 and President Uhuru Kenyatta's Big Four agenda," Maina said.
They are putting their money into new enterprises and the government will continue to support them by providing a conducive environment for development, she said.
(Edited by V. Graham)