Nakuru governor spearheads revival of pyrethrum growing

Initiatives launched by various stakeholders in the 18 pyrethrum growing counties to revive the cash crop will not succeed unless Kenya regains its lost international market.

According to latest statistics, Kenya, which used to produce 80 percent of the world pyrethrum, is now producing only one percent.

Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui, who has been spearheading the revival programme in the county, says the only way to jumpstart the stalled pyrethrum growing is to unlock the bottlenecks along the value chain.

Governor Kinyanjui said farmers trooping back to the farms are increasingly anxious due to the delayed reforms in the lucrative sector.

FALSE START

"We have in the past made a serious false start but it is now high time we put the bad beginning behind us and give farmers renewed hope to grow the neglected crop,'' said Mr Kinyanjui.

He was speaking during a consultative meeting of key stakeholders in the industry at Sarova Woodlands Hotel in Nakuru Town on Wednesday.

He said that farmers lack technical advice and clean planting materials which have hampered the revival process of the ailing industry that is capable of reducing poverty and unemployment levels in the county to almost zero percent.

"If we fail to get it right this time around we shall be in trouble because as a devolved unit we have promised farmers to make radical changes that would put more money in their pockets," said Mr Kinyanjui.

EXTENSION WORKERS

The county chief said that his government would lead by action in a bid to train more extension workers and is working closely with Egerton University to realise the dream.

"In the next couple of months the county would have a call centre that would be a one-stop centre where pyrethrum and other farmers would have their questions answered in real time to spur development in this critical sector," said Mr Kinyanjui.

At the same time he said that his government would also work closely with the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis) to ensure the seeds supplied to farmers are certified and suitable for planting in specific areas.

Mr Kinyanjui advised investors in the lucrative industry to rethink their business model by ensuring they set aside enough money to pay farmers.

"There is no point in investing in a Sh200 million processing plant and after a few years it is shut down and farmers are not paid their dues for flowers delivered," said Mr Kinyanjui.

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS

Among the international markets the country is yet to unlock include China, India, US, Australia and others in Europe.

Kephis Managing Director, Dr Esther Kimani, said that her organisation has now been cleared to certify all pyrethrum planting materials and assured farmers that cases of uncertified seeds would be a thing of the past.

“The good news to pyrethrum farmers is that the government has authorised Kephis to ensure all planting materials are certified because it is keen on making sure the revival process is successful and farmers earn good returns from their cash crop," said Dr Kimani.

She warned processors against selling uncertified seeds to unsuspecting farmers saying they would be dealt with according to the law.