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