The Uasin Gishu county government has deployed 336 personnel to register farmers in the region and collect other basic data that will be used to boost agriculture.
Governor Jonathan Bii said the move was part of the pursuit of agricultural excellence as envisioned in his Nguzo Kumi (10-point) development plan for the county.
Bii said the 336 enumerators had been entrusted with a pivotal mission to gather all the vital information from farmers across all sub-counties in Uasin Gishu.
He said farmers represented the bedrock of the expansive region and their toil in the farms was a major contributor to economic development in the county.
“Their unwavering dedication forms the very backbone of our agricultural landscape. In fact, they are not just farmers; they are the architects of our food security,” Bii said.
Speaking at the county headquarters where he flagged the enumerators yesterday, Governor Bii said the exercise was in collaboration with the national government. It was out of the necessity to consolidate data that would help to harness the power of the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management Information System (KIAMIS), he said.
Bii said the process involves mapping and recording farm and farmer details, primary farm ownership, farm enterprises, inputs, machinery services, land and water management, and financial services.
“The urgency of this mission is underscored by the pressing need for real-time, precise data that has often hindered our path to meaningful development as a country,” Bii said.
He said the data collected would be used to assess food and nutrition security, target support to farmers, formulate informed policies, attract investments, promote manufacturing, and develop infrastructure.
This initiative began with stakeholder and farmer sensitisation and the recruitment of agriprenuers and supervisors.
“As a county, we are proud to provide temporary employment to 336 youths from our wards through this initiative. We urge them to carry out the job with dedication and accuracy,” the governor said.
The county boss urged farmers in the region to participate in the registration exercise, noting that their involvement was critical to the success of the agriculture sector to help in food security in the country.
The details collected will also be applied in government initiatives in the agriculture sector including distribution of subsidised fertiliser. The fresh registration of farmers is expected to take place in all counties.
Uasin Gishu is one of the country's bread baskets with high production of maize and wheat among other crops.
