Agriculture
Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich has called on dairy farmers from the county to support the government in its efforts to revive the Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) by delivering their milk to the company.
Farmers stopped delivering their milk to the company after it faced financial problems which delayed their payments but the governor assured them that the company is now paying milk deliveries promptly. The Governor who was speaking during an Agricultural field Day at Chebara Agricultural Training College in Marakwet West sub-County said farmers will be paid by next week for their October deliveries.
The government provided the company with Sh2 billion to modernize their equipment and to ensure prompt payment to farmers. In his bid to enhance the wealth creation strategy by ensuring that each farmers invest in an agricultural activity to boost food security and earn an income, the Governor said each ward will be holding a field day where the leading farmer in wealth creation will be feted.
Rotich called on agricultural companies to be part of the field days in line with what agricultural activity does well in each ward to ensure that all farmers keep up with the modern farming techniques. He added that Chebara field Day will be an annual event saying it will be the culmination of the ward field days saying farmers need to change from the traditional farming methods and practice agribusiness
The County Government boss said the County Government will ensure that it completes the Chebara ATC whose construction started last year and ensure that it has hostels to enable farmers from the county get accommodation as they acquire the necessary training.
The CEC agriculture Edwin Seronei called on farmers to embrace technology saying it will assist them in reducing expenses while maximizing on yields. The theme for this year’s exhibition was “Promote smart climate technology and innovation for wealth creation.”
Farmers hailed the exhibition saying they had gained knowledge which will help them improve their production.