Day: March 18, 2023

Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani launched Shauri Moyo multipurpose dam project in Silaloni area in Samburu Sub County at a cost of Sh45.7 million as part of water security investment. Governor Achani said the Shauri Moyo mega dam project has a storage capacity of 151,000 cubic metres (151million litres of water) and was expected to serve Silaloni location and its environs. She said the new multimillion shillings’ water project was among other dam projects that the Kwale County government is investing in to solve the water scarcity problem facing area residents. Other ongoing dam projects are the Sh20 billion Mwache multipurpose dam and the Sh1.6 billion Makamini dam. The Sh15 million Nyalani Dam was recently completed benefiting 22,000 residents in Kinango Sub County. She reiterated her administration’s commitment to addressing the challenges in water shortage experienced by the people of Kwale over decades. ‘The dam whose construction we are launching today will ensure adequate water supply throughout the year,’ she said. She said the project would particularly contribute to improving the living conditions of the communities in the project area and that the event was significant as it further demonstrated her administration’s abiding commitment to improving general access to potable water supply in every corner of the county. The county boss says the current drought affecting most parts of Kwale has further worsened an already bad situation where many do not have access to safe and adequate clean water. Achani who chairs the County Drought Response Coordination Committee says at least 200,000 people spread in Kinango, Shimba Hills, Samburu and Lunga Lunga sub counties are in urgent need of relief food and water supplies. The Governor said the county is already putting up measures to mitigate the effects of the drought through construction of water dams, expansion and rehabilitation of boreholes across the region. Governor Achani reiterated that water is a key component in her administration in a bid to ensure adequate water supply for human and livestock. ‘I know drought has been a menace in Samburu Sub County being a vast and semi-arid area. My leadership will make sure those areas affected by the water problem will have dams constructed to bring the water problem to an end,’ she said. Achani noted that the devolved government intends to build at least one large-scale dam in each of the six sub counties to irrigate massive hectares of land for agricultural purposes. She said her administration is committed to improving the livelihoods of those living in arid and semi-arid parts of the coastal county, through construction of dams that will supply reliable water for domestic use and for irrigation. ‘Access to safe, affordable and reliable water services is a basic right towards sustaining healthy livelihoods and maintaining the people’s dignity,’ she said. Achani noted that the water project was expected to be completed in the next four months and provide Silaloni and its environs with water for irrigation as well as to store water for use during the drought seasons. She said the devolved unit has put in place necessary mechanisms for promoting irrigation farming to enhance food security in the county and help smallholder farmers grow their incomes. Achani stated that her administration has embarked on massive restoration and expansion of existing water projects to address critical water supply services to households in the region.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Cotton farmers from Western and Nyanza regions have a reason to smile after the national government injected a whooping Sh50 million into purchasing of high yield BT cotton seed to help revive farming of the crop thus reviving the sleeping ginneries in the sector.

Speaking at Muluanda Ginnery in Samia sub county, Busia County during the launch of free BT cotton seed distribution to farmers in Busia, Principal Secretary Ministry of Agriculture Dr Juma Mukhwana reiterated the government’s commitment to upscaling cotton farming in the country.

Dr. Mukhwana challenged farmers to embrace cotton farming, assuring them of government’s support through provision of seedlings, subsidized fertilizers and reviving of the ginnery which provide a ready market for farmers.

However, cotton farmers from Samia, Bunyala, Nambale and Matayos Sub-Counties expressed their desire for the two tier governments to intervene and address the myriad of challenges facing cotton farming in the area which have derailed progress in the revival.

The farmers said the challenges ranged from outdated legislation that does not conform to the 2010 Constitution, poor pricing and exorbitant cost of inputs among others.

‘Farmers in Busia face a myriad of challenges in cotton production. The low cotton production is due to the lack of high-yielding cotton seeds varieties that are tolerant to pests and diseases,’ they said.

This comes even as their Member of National Assembly Dr Oundo Mudenyo challenged cotton farmers to take advantage of government provisions and embark fully and seriously on BT cotton farming as Busia County faces a deficit cotton production of more than 70,000 metric tonnes of the product.

Dr. Mudenyo wants soil analysis and diagnosis of pests and diseases which have been a major challenge to farmers to be addressed.

‘We are in dire need of value addition facilities, infrastructure such as ginneries and other cotton processing facilities,’ he said.

The legislator has challenged the county government to prioritize employment of agriculture extension officers to offer education to farmers.

‘Under the Government’s Agenda, cotton and textiles have been identified among the key drivers towards expansion of the manufacturing sector since it provides raw materials to our industries,’ noted the MP.

Acting Director General of the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Beatrice Nyamwamu said they would ensure that the farmers get the right seeds and chemicals for the growing of cotton across the country.

‘Cotton is among the few cash crops that thrive well in the fragile ASAL regions where few other economic opportunities exist, hence providing a source of livelihood to rural communities in ASAL areas where poverty levels are high,’ said Nyamwamu.

The director added that the farmers now have enough seeds to grow cotton and chemicals distributed freely to them through their cooperative societies.

The County government of Busia has set aside Sh 20 million to revamp cooperatives targeting over 3,000 acres of land for cotton production.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Crops Development PS Kello Harsama has directed the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Organization (KALRO) to establish cashew nut nurseries in Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) counties for economic diversification. PS Harsama launched four new varieties of cashew nuts that are drought tolerant, disease resistant, and only takes one and half years to mature as opposed to the traditional varieties that took five years. The new varieties that are expected to increase farmers’ earnings due to their short maturity have been named as Kkrorosho75, Kkorosho 81, Kkrosho 82, and Kkrosho 100. The PS termed the development of the varieties ‘a big breakthrough in the agriculture sector’ since farmers’ plant, harvest, and sell within a short duration. The PS has met and encouraged farmers and leaders from ASAL counties to grow cashew nuts crop as an alternative source of income. ‘I have directed KALRO to start nurseries in other parts of Kenya where there is drought in Marsabit, Wajir, Isiolo, Samburu, Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Baringo. I will solicit for funds for KALRO to set up nurseries in the ASAL counties so that people in those areas can start benefiting from cashew nuts because the market is available abroad and in Kenya,’ said Harsama. ‘It is a good opportunity for Kenyans who want to cultivate in arid areas. This crop does not require a lot of rain, and it is drought tolerant. People should take advantage and plant it in abundance to get profit,’ he added. The PS promised to deploy agricultural officers to impart knowledge on cashew nut farming to residents in ASAL counties. He said that pricing affected cashew nut farming and the conventional variety could also not withstand climate change. ‘Cashew nut is a crop that is commonly found in coastal counties of Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, and Tana River and for a long time, people have benefited from the cashew nut crop,’ he said. KALRO Industrial Institute Director Finyange Pole said the new varieties have been developed over a period of time and were first released last year September. ‘These varieties are tolerant to the major cashew nut disease like powdery mildew which affects every part of the tree from the stem, leaves to the flowers which can cause up to 100 per cent loss,’ Pole noted. He said there is an increment in the prices of cashew nuts that are now sold between Sh50-70 per kilogramme unlike before when it was between Sh10 to 20. ‘Currently, the production of cashew nuts stands at 10,000 metric tonnes and the demand is about four or five times,’ Pole said urging farmers in the country to embrace the crop. ‘It only requires the initial rains for it to establish after that the plant can survive on its own with proper management like weeding, pruning and spraying against some pests and diseases,’ he explained. According to KALRO, 50,000 people depend on the cashew nut industry. In 2016, the area under cashew was estimated at 21,284 ha with a production of 11,404 Mt valued at Sh398, 799, 443.

Source: Kenya News Agency

In the current world where unemployment and poverty is the order of the day, innovation and creativity is the best way of survival. In a little known village of Angorom in Teso South Sub County, a group composed of men and women of different ages have come together in a bid to sustain their livelihoods. The group known as Amani with a membership of 18, has achieved far above their numbers in terms of seedlings production. Founded in the year 2022, the group has already produced more than 500,000 tree seedlings which they sell to different camps. Stephen Baraza, the Group Chairman says that they target to hit the one million mark in terms of seedlings production by the end of April. ‘Deforestation has been on a high rate in Kenya and people tend to forget the famous slogan of ‘cut one plant two.’ That’s why we have come up with this initiative of tree seedling production in order to suppress scarcity of trees in our region,’ said Baraza. The father of four adds that their venture into the noble activity would not only address climate change but was also a source of livelihood for the members. ‘I have four children, two are at primary level and the other two at secondary level. I generate their school fees from this project and they have never been sent home for fees as I ensure that immediately I earn from the nursery, I clear fees on time,’ added Baraza. The group’s treasurer, Topister Otwane, is in agreement with the chairman adding that economic gains from the venture could not be underscored. Otwane however points out that the activity has challenges in that seedlings could be destroyed by stray domestic and wild animals since they are operating on an open space. She urges the government through the Ministry of Agriculture to intervene and support them in establishing a barbed wire, to fence off the nursery and procure a generator to enable watering of the seedlings during the dry spell. The treasurer further pleads with the Department of Forest Services to capacity build them and advise them on different seedling varieties to plant. Busia Acting County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto says that President William Ruto is interested in planting trees with a view to combating climate change. Kipchumba adds that exploitation of trees has negatively affected the environment leading to climate change and its effects. ‘We need to plant trees in order to save our ecosystem from disastrous effects,’ he says, adding that Busia County has a very low forest cover. He further says that locals should plant trees in their private farms, schools, and government institutions. ‘Let us start by planting trees in our own homes, especially fruit trees,’ he says, adding that the government targets to plant 15 billion trees by the year 2032. Busia County Forest Conservator Vitalis Osodo called for massive investment into tree planting noting that Busia has a meagre five per cent forest cover. He also called upon the residents to resort to using alternative means of energy rather than depending largely on firewood and charcoal. ‘We request our people to use alternative sources of energy like biogas or electricity for those who can afford to avoid the issue of deforestation when using wood fuel or burning charcoal,’ he added. The Forest Conservator further stated that the county has identified 15 acres at KALRO Alupe, five acres at Busia Agricultural Training Centre, five more acres at Korinda GK Prison for tree planting during this financial year. He called upon various organizations, youth groups and individuals to establish tree nurseries where seedlings could be bought to support the Presidential directive on tree planting. The Kenya Vision 2030 blueprint set a goal for the country to increase the areas under forest cover to 10 per cent by 2030 and sustainably manage natural forests for environmental protection and enhanced economic growth.

Source: Kenya News Agency