- Meru farmers will receive six million seedlings, including five million avocado and one million cocoa seedlings.
- The programme aims to diversify farming, boost incomes and expand production of high value crops.
- Farmers will also receive extension services and training to support crop management and value addition.
Meru farmers are set to receive new planting materials as the government seeks to expand the range of high-value crops grown in the county.
The programme will see five million avocado seedlings distributed to farmers, while another one million cocoa seedlings will be introduced as the government seeks to establish the crop as an additional source of income.
Forestry Principal Secretary (PS) Gitonga Mugambi said the move is intended to open up new opportunities for farmers while strengthening production of crops with demand beyond Kenya.
Cocoa, which is being introduced on a larger scale in Meru, is expected to give farmers an alternative to some of the crops they have traditionally depended on. Meanwhile, the avocado component is expected to build on Meru’s established role in avocado production and allow more farmers to participate in the expanding market.
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Beyond farm production, the government expects the programme to stimulate activities such as processing and other forms of value addition. This could also create employment and increase earnings from agricultural exports.
Farmers will not only receive seedlings. Extension support and training will also be provided to help them establish and manage the crops effectively.
Access to quality planting material, combined with technical assistance, will be important in ensuring that the new crops perform well and remain productive, the government said.
The diversification plan is part of wider efforts to move farmers towards higher-value agricultural activities and reduce dependence on traditional crops. It is also intended to position Meru producers to serve both the domestic market and overseas buyers as demand for high-value agricultural products continues to grow.
Crop diversification and value addition have increasingly been promoted by the government as measures for raising household earnings and strengthening Kenya’s agricultural export sector.
By Jonathan Mwinzi
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