Agriculture
West Pokot County has held a three-day Agricultural and Trade Fair Show aimed at promoting climate smart agriculture towards improving food security and the county’s sustainable economic growth.
The county is continuously hosting agricultural shows because they provide a platform for knowledge exchange, innovation and technology ideas. The event provides an opportunity for farmers to learn about the latest new advancements in climate smart practices and digital farming techniques.
Speaking during the just concluded agricultural show held in Kishaunet, Governor Simon Kachapin said they have a responsibility as a county to sponsor the shows every year since there is no other particular sponsor. ”Just like we know in other counties such events are funded by ASK, for us we depend on our own resources to ensure that the annual exhibition runs smoothly,” noted Kachapin.
Governor Simon Kachapin tours exhibition stalls during this year’s Agricultural Show and Trade Fair at the Kishaunet Agricultural Show Ground in West Pokot. Photo by Agneta Chebet
The Governor lauded the Ministry of Agriculture for ensuring that there are successive improvements every year. He said they were able to see bees that were adaptable to climate change hence diversifying farmers to the best way of modern agriculture.
“Our farmers have been exposed to the best way to modernize agriculture because the land we currently own is continuing to get depleted day-by-day,” said Kachapin. He said the new farming techniques allow farmers to carry farming in small pieces of land by using modern farming methods to achieve the best output.
He said that the techniques have been able to show farmers that there are benefits in raising a few animals with value addition, and profit margins are high. “In the past, our farmers used to raise a large number of livestock whose value addition was low, but we are moving to a new system where we can raise a few animals that can bring us profit,” said Kachapin.
The Governor mentioned that animals like galla goats and dorper sheep could withstand the growing harsh climatic conditions. He proclaimed that indeed the county is indeed the county of hidden treasures because plants such as bananas, pumpkins, cassava, sorghum among others thrive in the region and honey cooperatives with good packaged honey from Kodich areas proved the potential.
A demonstration plot at the Kishaunet Agricultural Show Ground in West Pokot. Photo by Richard Muhambe
County Executive Committee Member ((CECM) for Agriculture William Longuronyang attested how farmers used to be ignorant of the importance of perennial crops therefore the show had come with a lot of significant changes whereby some arid and semi-arid areas like Pokot Central now produce high quality crafted mangoes.
He said the county led by the Governor saw it was wise to host agricultural shows because he realized that it opens up the mindset of many farmers hence opening them to modern farming techniques.
“My Governor saw that it is wise to host the county agricultural exhibition every year to educate our farmers and since the start of the show many farmers are able to change their mindset when it comes to agriculture practices,” said Longuronyang.
Locals promised to practice what they had been exposed to during the show, especially the use of modern methods of farming. However, they promised that food would no longer be a problem because the show has opened up their mindset on how to use limited land resources for maximum returns.