Busia county residents have been urged to embrace new agricultural technologies in order to achieve President Uhuru Kenyatta’s big four agenda.
Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Director Dr Joyce Maling’a said the four agenda especially food security and manufacturing agendas are key in realization of the country’s socio-economic development.
Speaking during the agricultural show organized by Busia county government and stakeholders Busia Agricultural Training Centre recently, Dr. Maling’a said KALRO in partnership with the county government is keen at achieving sustainable development goals.
” We are aiming at attaining zero poverty levels amongst county residents, thus the need for the new farming technology like the aerial farming embraced in the modern green garden that cost the county government Sh 2.9m should be emulated by the farmers to earn income.
Busia County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and Aninmal Dr. Moses Osia while echoing KALRO Director’s sentiments said the new technology will bring back extinct species like the goose berry that have nutritional value and are profitable to the farmer in just three months after planting.
Dr. Osiah said the county government has given out 44,000 assorted seedlings including goose berry, jackfruits, mangoes and guavas to farmers in the previous year, adding that they are targeting to give out 600,000 assorted seedlings.
” We are setting up seedlings nurseries in all the seven sub counties across the county. The idea is to supply farmers with the seedlings to sustain the upcoming Juice factory at Ikapolok in Malaba.
“The seedlings are advantageous to farmers because of the nutritional value they have. They are also profitable to farmers because of the high production yield, hence creating an income to a farmer,” Dr. Osiah said.
He said the county government had zoned out the county for soil testing before the seedlings were given out to the farmers, adding that they have bought PH meter enabling extension officers to access the farmers and do soil testing.
” The setting up of the Alupe soil testing laboratory is a plus to the county to enable easy soil testing,” he said.