The Kisumu County government recruited 111 highly experienced extension staff during the year under review, Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has said.
This, he noted, improved service delivery by reducing the staff-to-farmer ratio from 1:10,000 to 1:3,000 on average. Additionally, 42 agripreneurs were recruited through the World Bank-funded NAVCDP to support extension services in six wards: Awasi/Onjiko, East Kano/Wawidhi, West Nyakach, North Nyakach, Central Nyakach, and Kolwa East.
The governor also highlighted that three motorbikes were procured to support livestock extension services, and the process of procuring 26 more motorbikes has been initiated through NAVCDP. Further, Nyong’o indicated that Maseno Agricultural Training Center (ATC) has been revamped and repositioned as a center of excellence for agricultural information sourcing, dissemination, and training.
This development included an investment of Ksh 12 million in infrastructure, which included the refurbishment of conferencing facilities, the rehabilitation of the demonstration farm, and the establishment of additional enterprises.
Human resource development has been a key focus for effective service delivery, with the construction of the Pap Konam Agricultural Training College (ATC) in Seme Sub-County. The college is preparing to admit its first cohort of students. Through NAVCDP support, 180,000 farmers in the county have been profiled and captured in the national agricultural digital platform.
Additionally, Governor Nyong’o mentioned that in collaboration with the National Irrigation Authority, 6,100 50kg bags of basal fertilizers were distributed to rice farmers in Ahero and West Kano irrigation schemes. This support has contributed to increased yields, with farmers now harvesting up to 35 bags per acre. The county government also distributed certified seeds (maize and assorted high-value vegetables) and organic fertilizers worth Ksh 6 million to 8,300 farmers across the county.
The department, with support from the Agriculture Food Authority (AFA), also distributed 2,400 grafted avocados and 9,200 coffee seedlings to farmers in the coffee-growing areas of Upper Nyakach, Koru, and parts of Kisumu West. Additionally, the department registered several coffee nurseries and certified seven coffee estates within the county.
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In the 2023/2024 fiscal year, Governor Nyong’o stated that his administration has taken significant steps to enhance cotton productivity along the cotton value chain and promote the growth of the cottage industry. A total of 12.2 tons of cotton seeds were acquired and distributed to farmers across the county, supporting the cropping of an estimated 6,500 acres.
To improve the poultry value chain, the County Government procured and distributed eight complete egg incubation units worth Ksh 2 million to youth groups in Kondele, Manyatta B, and Nyalenda wards. In response to the decline in fish production due to poor lake resource management, inadequate access to quality fish, post-harvest handling infrastructure, and the effects of climate change, the county government rolled out a sensitization program for fishermen through their Beach Management Units, focusing on the management of cage fishing.
To increase crop production, the governor mentioned that the county is promoting agricultural mechanization. These efforts have resulted in the increased use of tractors for land preparation and combine harvesters for rice harvesting. Driven by demand, a private company, Hello Tractors, has set up operations in the county to offer digital solutions for managing farm machinery.
The increased uptake of mechanization has significantly boosted rice productivity, from 10 bags to an average of 25 bags per acre of paddy, contributing to a continued increase in the acreage under production. The area under rice production rose from 15,500 acres to 17,450 acres during the period under review. To sustain these gains, the department undertook major repairs and servicing of its fleet of seven tractors during the fiscal year.
By Fredrick Odiero.
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