West Pokot Agricultural Show held with calls on residents to embrace modern farming techniques

Kapenguria

Thursday, November 9, 2023

KNA by Richard Muhambe

West Pokot residents have been challenged to engage in short-season crop farming as rains continue to be experienced in most of parts the county.

Speaking at the official opening of this year's ASK Show and Trade Fair at Kishaunet grounds in Kapenguria, Deputy Governor Robert Komolle said the government was using the opportunity to get its residents engaged in modern farming to help explore the agricultural potential of the county.

Komole said the county had decided to revamp the ASK shows that had dwindled for the last few years noting that many residents had been being forced to travel to either Kitale in Transnzoia County or Eldoret in Uasin Gishu County for the shows.

 "We are delighted that the show is now active after it had been given a wide berth by the previous county administration. Our governor is very passionate about matters of food security and that's why we want to inspire our residents to engage in profitable agriculture," stated the DG.

He added that the county had also used the chance to have all county government departments display their operations so that wananchi could learn about the government services offered.

At the same time, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock, Irrigation and Fisheries Wilfred Longronyang reiterated that West Pokot County is capable of feeding itself if modern farming is embraced.

Longronyang revealed that cases of food shortage were a result of farmers in the region still using traditional farming methods hence compromising productivity.

"We are doing this show to encourage our farmers to use technology in their farming practices. West Pokot has enormous land resources where if modern farming methods are used, then cries for relief food shall be a thing of the past," he explained.

The CECM said the exhibitions were focusing so much on short-season crops so that farmers could utilize the ongoing rains in the region.

"We have demonstrated in our demo plots crops that take less than 3 months to get to maturity. We even have maize varieties that can be sustained within the short rainy seasons," highlighted the CECM.

Exhibitions at the show confirmed that many food crops can do very well in the region once proper methods are used.

The CECM rallied residents to take advantage of the three-day show to learn a few modern agricultural skills to help the Kenya Kwanza government realize its intention of boosting food security across the country.

Courtesy; KNA