Lamu County farmers received a multi-million shilling agricultural boost on May 7 after the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) and the County Government of Lamu jointly launched a seed pressing facility in Hongwe and delivered 3 tonnes of BT cotton seeds to farmers gathered at Mpeketoni Agricultural Training Centre (ATC), in a twin intervention valued at Ksh 20 million.
The seed pressing machine, donated by AFA in partnership with the County Government and installed at Lake Kenyatta Farmers Cooperative Society in Hongwe, is the first of its kind in the region. The facility is expected to enable farmers to produce biodiesel and other by-products, including animal feed, which officials noted remains in critically short supply across the country.
Lamu Deputy Governor Dr. Mbarak Bahjaj, who presided over both events, urged farmers to fully embrace the new facility and to scale up raw material production to keep it operational. He noted that processed products such as biodiesel command significantly higher market prices than raw produce, making value addition a direct pathway to increased household income.
“The county government will continue strengthening collaboration with AFA and investors to expand agricultural opportunities under Governor Issa Timamy,” Dr. Bahjaj said, adding that agriculture remains central to Lamu’s economic transformation.
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He also announced that the County Government of Lamu, in partnership with a private investor, is set to establish a bixa processing factory as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen agricultural value chains under the current administration.
AFA Chairman Cornelly Serem, who led a delegation of AFA officials at both functions, said the seed pressing machine will directly address shortages in the livestock sector by enabling the production of animal feeds as a by-product of biodiesel processing. He encouraged farmers to submit proposals for additional support, assuring them of continued AFA backing provided production levels are sustained.
On the cotton front, Serem announced that the seed support programme would be scaled up from 3 tonnes to 9 tonnes in the next planting season. He praised Lamu farmers and the county government for ensuring the county accounts for over 60 per cent of national cotton production.
The KSh 20 million support package delivered at Mpeketoni ATC comprised 3 tonnes of BT cotton seeds, 10,000 bixa seedlings, 10,500 bottles of pesticides and 16 motorized sprayer machines for cooperatives.
Lamu County Agriculture County Executive Committee Member (CECM) James Gichu said the introduction of BT cotton by AFA is helping address the longstanding challenges of access to quality seeds, a key barrier to productivity. He called on farmers to join cooperatives and fully embrace value addition initiatives, noting that such investments will play a key role in job creation and rural economic empowerment.
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Gichu added that the Department of Agriculture will continue collaborating with partners to strengthen the sector across the county.
Farmers and cooperative leaders at both functions expressed appreciation to the county government leadership, commending what they described as a timely and transformative intervention.
The events were also attended by Julius Ndegwa, Managing Director of Thika Cloth Mills, Tejal Dodhia, representatives from Makueni Ginners and other stakeholders.
By Benedict Aoya
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