Centre for best agricultural practices launched
Elgon Kenya Ltd Managing Director, Bimal Kantaria, addresses farmers during a past farmers' event in Thika. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Kinyua's farm was awarded the status on Wednesday by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Willy Bett in an event that was held in the same farm.
- The next project is set for launch in Vihiga County this coming month.
- According to Kantaria, the country is now in a vantage position to access the latest agricultural innovations and technologies.
- Kirinyaga County CEC executive, Peter Warui said other counties are always welcome to Kirinyaga to learn better farming practices owing to its numerous agricultural innovations.
THE WINNER OF THE 2014 National Farmers Awards prize, Flashia Kinyua, has been honoured further when her farm was turned into a farming demonstration centre, for giving insight on the best farming practices and agricultural technology.
Kinyua, a small-scale horticultural farmer in Kirinyaga County, was the overall winner of the Women in Agriculture category of the awards in 2014.
Her farm was awarded the status on Wednesday by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Willy Bett in an event that was held in the same farm.
The demonstration centre is an initiative of Elgon Kenya Ltd, Kirinyaga County Government and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Elgon Kenya set up a one acre drip irrigation kit, which Kinyua was awarded, for demonstration in the farm.
Speaking at the event, Elgon Kenya Managing Director, Bimal Kantaria said that it is the first in a series of such projects, with an intention of increasing farming production, generating income for small-scale farmers and enhancing food security.
The next project is set for launch in Vihiga County this coming month.
“We must support small-holder farmers in enhancing their farms’ productivity, in order to achieve food security,” said Mr Kantaria.
"KADOGO" AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS
He urged farmers to shun fake farm inputs and embrace the smaller packages of farm inputs designed especially for their affordability.
Mr Kantaria further alluded that his firm is on a green revolution mission to transform agriculture by availing products, inputs and services to the farmers.
To this effect, the firm has launched the “kadogo” agricultural technology products encompassing the quarter acre irrigation kits, small seed packs and 10kg fertiliser packs.
According to Kantaria, the country is now in a vantage position to access the latest agricultural innovations and technologies.
This is due to their partnership with multinational firms such as Du Pont, BASF, Bayer, Syngenta, Excel Chemicals and Arystal.
Speaking on behalf of Governor Joseph Ndathi, County Agricultural executive, Peter Warui said other counties are always welcome to Kirinyaga to learn better farming practices owing to its numerous agricultural innovations.
He further urged parents to assist their children engage in farming to enable them earn income.
Farmers from other counties countrywide attended the event.
