Relief as e-extension services introduced to boost agribusiness

Kiambu, Wednesday, May 3, 2023  

K.N.A By Steve Biko

Farmers in Kiambu Sub- County can now rest easy following the introduction of digital extension services aimed at boosting agri-business.

Speaking to KNA in his office Wednesday, Sub County Ward Advisory Officer (SWAO) in the department of agriculture James Mugwimi said the introduction of e-extension services will improve service delivery by linking farmers to the available market.

The SWAO observed that a dwindling 70 percent of the sub county’s population engage in agriculture owing to the emergence of real estate development mushrooming in the county, thus taking up acres of arable land previously used for agricultural production.  

“The e-extension programme is need-based and is designed to help foster food security through adoption of smart modes of communication to reach farmers,” he said, adding that one extension officer serves a group of between 30 to 40 farmers thus enabling benchmarking and monitoring performance and productivity,” he further added.

Mugwimi explained that the aim is to bring in a shift from traditional methods of farming that are low yielding in terms of produce to the adoption of new methods that are of high value and efficient, like the practice of climate smart agriculture.

He urged farmers in the County especially the youth who are aspiring to venture in the agri-business sector to form groups to get access to affordable credit facilities from agricultural cooperative societies and also government services like the e-voucher subsidized fertilizer which ranges from Sh3500 for a 50kg bag compared to the Sh7000 in the market.

“Small-scale farmers play a pivotal role in the agricultural sector therefore supporting the majority of livelihoods here in Kiambu county, I encourage the youth to opt for agribusiness to try and curb the spiraling unemployment rates experienced across the nation,” he said.

The Kiambu department of Agriculture has introduced a support development Programme for farmers seeking to get training on matters of value addition, diversification and intensive agriculture which go a long way in boosting the agri-business.

Kiambu County is known for growing and cultivating vegetables that include kale, cabbage, garden peas, tomatoes, snow peas, carrots, and spinach. Herbs and spices are also grown for both local use and export.

The county also produces pineapples, mangoes, avocados, and bananas.

Courtesy K.N.A