Agricultural Development Corporation has no idle land and is working to fully revive all its operations, chief executive officer Wilson Tonui has said.
Tonui said the corporation, which has more than 1.8 million acres of land across the county, is using it for various activities including seed production, animal breeding among others.
He dismissed as untrue claims that some of the land owned by the corporation is laying idle.
Tonui said only water logged and rocky areas are in improper use, but the same would be turned into forestation as part of President William Ruto’s vision to grow more than five billion trees.
The CEO was speaking at Chorlem ADC farm in Endebess during an inspection tour by Agriculture CS Andrew Karanja.
Tonui said land owned by the corporation is properly utilised for food production raging from seed maize, livestock breeding and fruit farming activities.
He said the firm would step up production of the same as part of efforts to ensure the country is food secure.
He said areas not arable have been used to grow trees and grazing of livestock. "We are exploring ways to tap the water logged areas for use," he said.
ADC chairman Abdillahi Alawy said his management is keen to ensure agricultural activities are scaled up through innovations.
He said ADC plays a critical role in food security for the country and its land should be protected.
"The corporation is committed in its mandate and we are making prudent use of both finance and land to fulfill the government's bottom up transformative agenda," Alawy said.
CS Karanja said the government is doing everything possible to protect operations of ADC and Kenya Seed Company—key agencies in food security of the country.
"We have engaged a multi-agencies approach to deal with the sale of fake farm inputs such as seeds. We are giving ADC and KSC support in their operations since they play a significant role in food security," Karanja said.
The CS assured farmers of the availability of enough seed for the next planting season.
Tonui said 15 million kilos of seed maize is projected for harvest this season.
Kenya Seed Company managing director Sammy Chepsiror said 33 million kilos of seed would be available for farmers.
