By Benedict Ngetich
Kericho county governor Dr Erick Mutai has promised to solve a myriad of challenges facing the agricultural sector in the region so as to boost and enhance agricultural benefits.
The governor said he will use the following strategies: insure crops to reduce vulnerabilities of farmers to climatic change and market volatility, employ contract farming, ensure farm certification for international market access and good agricultural practices and support farmers through offering training and seeds that meet export standards to encourage export of local products.
He talked of plans to organize small scale farmers into vibrant cooperatives to enjoy economies of scale, consolidate quantities, enhance marketing and open international outlets.
“My government will also revitalize cooperative societies,” he added.
He also promised to set up a vibrant County Kilimo Fund to provide agricultural loans to farmers and boost agricultural production in the region.
The governor revealed that the new county government will prioritize funding the agricultural sector which is the economic backbone of the region and that the funding will be done through the Ministry of Cooperatives Development which will be established.
“Our county is blessed with more enough land for agriculture. This is the reason I will prioritize on revolutionizing agriculture through exploitation of all its value chains for food security and economic progression,” he said.
He added that his focus on agriculture will cover crop farming and agro ecological zone plan.
“We will map and zone the suitability and potential of selected cash crop like coffee, tea and sugarcane as well as horticultural crops and fruits in each of the six sub counties,” he pointed out.
Through mapping, coffee production will be concentrated in Kipkelion, the lower zones of Ainamoi, Ngoina and the lower zones of Soin-Sigowet.
Tea production will be done in the high potential areas of Ainamoi, Belgut and Bureti while lucrative fruit farming will be concentrated in the lower parts of Ainamoi and Soin Sigowet sub counties.
Potatoes & pyrethrum will be grown in Londiani while maize, fruits and sweet potatoes will be zoned in Kipkelion & Soin-Sigowet.
The governor revealed that he will subsidize the high cost of quality seedlings to ensure affordability and enhance adoption of the cash crops.
He talked of plans to set up a fertilizer production factory in Kipkelion using a Public-Private partnership model to reduce the cost of fertilizer.
“We also plan to work with research institutions to develop and adopt new technologies, varieties and farming approaches,” he added.
He added that through the existing public land and public private partnerships, he will set up the following agro-processing units: coffee milling and coffee warehouse in Kipkelion West, maize milling plant in Kipkelion East, potato processing plant in Sigowet-Soin, sugarcane factory in Sigowet Soin and fruit processing and aggregation plant in Bureti.
He also plans to establish Special Economic Zones in the government owned Chelimo area.
Dr Mutai promised to utilize the locally domiciled Tea Research Institute and champion for the establishment of other Research Directorates like Sugarcane, Coffee and Horticulture in Kericho county.
He also talked of plans to revive trade fairs and agricultural shows to facilitate learning and sharing of experiences by farmers.
On the critical role of extension services, the governor revealed that he will employ thirty (30) qualified Agricultural Extension Officers at the Ward level to provide technical support to farmers.
He promised to upgrade and modernize all markets with modern infrastructure to provide a conducive and comfortable environment for trading while setting up aggregation centres to consolidate volumes and boost the marketing of produce.
The governor promised to ensure optimal use of the county government land that lies idle like Kabianga Tea Farm (452 acres) and the 42 acre Kipkelion Coffee Farm.
The governor’s focus on the livestock sector will be revolutionizing the dairy sector by improving breeds, supporting animal management programmes, subsidizing input and improving farm gate prices of products.
The county will also set up an abattoir in Kipsitet and establish a leather tannery & processing unit in the county.
He will also set up a milk processing plant in Belgut and upgrade and modernize animal sale yards.
