Long-Term Sustainability of Reduced Food Prices unveiled

Kiambu

Monday August 7, 2023

KNA by Melodie Mumbi

Kiambu County Government has financed agricultural products by providing grain, fertiliser, and improved kienyeji chicks to farmers.

With the impending short rains, the County government has distributed and incentivized production materials with the expectations of a bounty harvest come January.

The financial aid is aimed at circulating both the farmers and consumers money to other sectors of the economy to improve the living standards of the people.

Speaking to KNA Monday, the CEC of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation John Mwangi Kamau emphasised about the quality of food saying organic food which they are promoting is of high nutritional value as compared to conventional food.

He said that organic food is expensive and the purchasing power both for farmers and consumers might be minimal but noted that the government is working towards diversification of various foods in the agriculture base.

"As a County, this is what motivates us to provide improved kienyeji chicks and also seeds. Rearing animals and plants will increase food security and this will see prices of food come down and stay down," Kamau said.

In an effort to boost food production, Kiambu County Government in April distributed certified maize seed to all the 12 sub counties and this is expected to have a significant impact on the quality of next harvest.

Just last month, Kiambu Governor Dr Kimani Wamatangi also distributed 120,000 one month old improved kienyeji chicks to women in order to enhance the economic empowerment through farming and to support farmers to diversify their agricultural production to improve their living standards.

A farmer and trader, Ms Jane Muthoni Karanja explained to KNA that the maize seeds and fertilizer has bounced up her harvest and enabled her to reduce the price of maize cob from Sh 30 that she initially sold to Sh 20 and still get profit.

She added that apart from the maize seeds the county government has also boosted farmers in the coffee growing zones with fertilizer in order to increase produce and this creates jobs through hiring of manpower.

According to the CEC, there are plans to form cooperative societies for farmers at ward levels to commercialise the supply of seeds and fertilisers.

Additionally, he said, the societies will conduct farmer enumeration to ensure inputs are fairly distributed and that a farmer is given only that which is proportional to his or her land.

“We are also planning to supply pesticides to farmers. This will greatly increase the output since a lot is normally lost during pests,” the CEC said.

National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), a Community Driven Development Project that seeks to increase market participation and value addition for targeted small-scale farmers is working hand in hand with the Kiambu County Government to ensure continuous exchange of farm input to ensure the long-term sustainability of the reduced food prices.

Courtesy ; K. N. A