Process on how to improve agricultural Development in counties on the right course.

Robert Njoroge, a Regional skills Expert working with the Edukans{R} consult with David Momanyi, the Head of Programs at African Youth Trust during a meeting in Kisumu last Friday-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo.

By Dickson Odhiambo.

March 19, 2018.

Process on how to improve agricultural Development in counties on the right course.

A process aimed at improving agricultural development in counties within Kenya is on the right course.

Two regional bodies known as Edukans and Africa Youth Trust are fully behind the process of engaging the small scale holder farmers in four counties within the Western and Nyanza region since the year 2016.

Speaking during a meeting held in Kisumu on how to improve agricultural development in Kenya, Robert Njoroge a Regional skills Expert working with the Edukans in a program known as Civic Engagement Alliance said they are currently working in four counties so as to empower smallholder farmers with skills on agricultural development.

The four Counties are Kisumu, Homa Bay, Busia and Kakamega.

Njoroge says the four counties have local partners the organization works with; adding the issue of smallholder farmers is not fully given priority by the stakeholders.

“We felt that the issues of smallholder farmers were not being addressed well by the stakeholders hence we took this initiative so as to empower them on how to improve on agricultural development,” he says.

He says the small holders’ issues like access to skills and markets are not being given the impetus it needs.

Njoroge says issues of how to improve access of Agricultural extension services to the smallholder farmers should be addressed.

“ Some of the best ways in which the lives of the smallholder farmers is how they can access information and knowledge on agricultural extension services, skills in agriculture as well as training opportunities,” Njoroge adds.

Njoroge says the stallholder farmers should be empowered on ways on how they can improve on productivity, adding that they should also be able to understand their role in the market.

David Momanyi, the Head of Programs at African Youth Trust says the capacity of the county Government should be improved so as to be able to expand agricultural extension services within them counties.

He says the Council of Governors’ committee of Agriculture should look into the issues of resources and capacity building the County Government so as to be able to have improved extension services.

Momanyi says there is need to increase the number of agricultural extension services within the counties so as to be able to reach many farmers locally.

He says there should be inter-counties relationship where they can come together and exchange programs like various agricultural skills as well as extension services.

“We want to ensure that we work in proper coordination with these four counties in implementation of policies supporting improved agriculture,” Momanyi says.

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