Senators evaluate ongoing agricultural initiatives in Bungoma County

Senators have conducted an oversight visit to Bungoma County to evaluate ongoing agricultural initiatives and engage with local stakeholders on sectorial challenges.

The senators under the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, chaired by Senator David Wafula Wakoli of Bungoma County first paid a courtesy call to the County Governor Kenneth Lusaka who was accompanied by Members of the County Assembly Agriculture Committee and the County Department of Agriculture.

They emphasized on the crucial role of the Senate committee in ensuring transparency, accountability and effective oversight of agricultural development programs.

The Committee also held stakeholder engagements with various farmers who raised several critical issues affecting agricultural productivity and livelihoods in the region.

Issues raised include , high cost of inputs, particularly animal and poultry feeds, low market prices for produce, especially coffee.

Inadequate storage capacity, with milk and coffee coolers unable to meet demand, limited extension services, with many farmers reporting a lack of support from agricultural officers.

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Other issue raises include exclusion from the fertilizer subsidy program, especially among coffee farmers, as the program largely targets maize producers.

Poor management of cooperative societies and SACCOs, leading to inefficiencies and erosion of farmer trust.

Also raised was exploitation by middlemen and brokers, who purchase produce at low prices and resell at high margins locally and across the Uganda border.

By Obegi Malack

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