- Nakuru distributes 7,000kg of sunflower seeds to 2,500 farmers.
- County targets 30,000 acres of sunflower farming in three years.
- Programme aims to cut edible oil imports and boost farmer incomes.
The County Government of Nakuru has distributed 7,000 kilograms of certified sunflower seeds to 2,500 farmers to boost local edible oil production.
The programme aims to reduce Kenya’s reliance on imported cooking oil. Implemented in partnership with the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) through the Nuts and Oil Crops Directorate, it seeks to expand sunflower farming from the current 2,300 acres to more than 30,000 acres across Nakuru’s 11 sub-counties within the next three years.
Agriculture Chief Officer of Nakuru, Eng. Margaret Kinyanjui, said the seeds were distributed to registered farmers under Governor Susan Kihika’s initiative to empower farmers, create employment and promote climate-resilient agriculture amid changing rainfall patterns.
She said Nakuru had received a cumulative 59,000 kilograms of certified sunflower seeds since the county launched its sunflower promotion programme in 2024.
“We are championing sunflower farming as a key commercial and rotational crop to economically empower farmers upon harvest,” Kinyanjui said.
Farmers had so far cultivated more than 9,000 hectares, producing an estimated 9,500 metric tonnes of sunflower valued at over Ksh 475 million, the Chief Officer said.
Under the programme, the county is supporting farmers through certified planting materials, subsidised fertiliser, market linkages and value addition initiatives aimed at increasing their earnings.
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Kinyanjui said county extension officers would continue training farmers on appropriate agronomic practices to improve production and reduce costs.
She noted that sunflower by products, including sunflower cake, provide an important ingredient for high protein livestock feed, creating additional income opportunities for farmers and supporting the animal feed industry.
In addition, the county government is advancing a Common User Facility at the Agriculture Training Centre (ATC) Soilo to support sunflower aggregation and value addition while creating employment opportunities, particularly for young people and women.
Kinyanjui said the county was committed to ensuring farmers had access to quality seeds, extension services, aggregation facilities, processing and reliable markets.
The county is promoting both hybrid varieties and open pollinated varieties (OPVs). Hybrid varieties grown in different parts of Nakuru include Sunbeam, Mammoth, Autumn Beauty, Teddy Bear and Kenya Fedha, which mature within three to four months.
Kinyanjui said farmers would eventually be supported with processing machines to enable them to produce cooking oil for sale in local markets.
“We urge farmers to take up the crop since there is low production despite the county having great potential. They have been organised into three clusters for more streamlined support and training,” she added.
She said the county was promoting sunflower and other oil crops to reduce Kenya’s edible oil import bill and lower cooking oil prices, noting that sunflower has a large unmet demand and a ready local and international market.
According to AFA data, Kenya produces only 34 per cent of its edible oil and fat requirements, with the deficit largely covered through imports. The country therefore remains a major importer of vegetable oils despite having suitable conditions for growing sunflowers, canola, sesame, coconut and groundnuts.
Kenyan edible oil manufacturers have also turned to importing sunflower from neighbouring Tanzania and Uganda to meet processing demand.
Nationally, the programme is being implemented in partnership with AFA across several counties. More than 50,000 farmers are expected to benefit from free certified seeds, with up to 60,000 acres targeted for sunflower production.
By Bernard Magada
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