The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has donated two tractors worth Sh14 million to Bungoma county to improve delivery of extension services.
Bungoma county executive for Fisheries, Livestock and Cooperatives Development, Monicah Fedha lauded FAO for the donation
Addressing the press in Kimilili on Friday during the flagging off Fedha said the tractors will help farmers till their land on time to prepare for planting.
“Many farmers miss out on the first rains which are normally for planting because they lack tractors to till their lands, these donations will give farmers a headstart,” she said.
She added that, currently FAO is supporting many agriculture projects in Bungoma which includes a global action for the control of armyworms and fall worms.
The project is run at Mabanga Agricultural training centre, Tobacco free farm in Malakisi, Sirisia and they also supply 3,000 kgs of Nyota beans to farmers.
However, Fedha said that the sole purpose of bringing FAO on board is to ensure that Bungoma is producing enough food that can fit its population.
Fedha said for Bungoma to be food safe it should produce 3.7 million bags of maize annually gainst the current production of less than 2 million bags.
“Hunger has hit the Western region due to lower maize production, I have instructed all our extension officers to go to the grassroots and teach farmers the new farming techniques,” she said.
To address the food insecurity in the region, Fedha said that Bungoma donated farm inputs to beneficiaries in the entire county.
“We donated 50kgs of planting fertilisers, 50kgs of top dressing and 10kgs of seeds to 21, 900 vulnerable farmers to ensure that we achieve food security,” she said.
In 2023, the county executive said Bungoma targets to get 400,000 bags of maize from those who received planting materials from the county government.
She called on farmers in Bungoma to venture into different farming practices.
“Let us not concentrate on one type of farming, Governor Lusaka has started an initiative called fuga kuku let us embrace it and fight poverty,” she said.
Ambassador Carla Mucavi, FAO representative in Kenya affirmed that their purpose of working in the western region is to ensure zero hunger.
She said FAO is running different projects in many countries and affirmed that the tractors will give farmers an easy time tilling their land.
Deputy Governor Jenipher Mbatiany who was present applauded FAO for accepting to partner with the county government to benefit farmers.