Farmers in Busia County have been urged to embrace modern farming technologies and practices to increase production, improve incomes, and add value to their agricultural products.
Busia County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and Livestock, Dr. Symplius George Mukok made the call during an exhibition of agricultural products at the Busia Agricultural Training Centre (ATC).
The exhibition was organized by KELCOP, an organization implementing agricultural programmes in Busia and Bungoma counties.
Dr. Mukok said adopting modern technology and applying knowledge gained through training would enable farmers to boost productivity while producing quality raw materials for industries, including the Nasewa Industrial Area in Matayos.
"We want our farmers to move away from traditional methods and embrace modern technologies that can help them increase production. Through training and access to the right information, farmers can produce more, add value to their products, and earn better incomes. We also want to ensure that the products from our farms can supply industries within the county, including the Nasewa Industrial Area.”~ Dr. George Mukok
The county official also challenged young people to embrace agriculture as a source of employment and income, urging them to shun violent politics and other unproductive activities
"I want to encourage our young people to look at agriculture as a serious business and a source of employment. Instead of engaging in violent politics and activities that do not benefit them, they can invest their energy and skills in farming, where there are many opportunities for income generation.” ~ George Mukok
KELCOP coordinators in Busia and Bungoma, Radoli Shiundu and Rose Khisa, said the organization's training programmes have helped farmers improve production and strengthen food security in the region.
"The training we provide is focused on helping farmers improve their production, adopt better farming practices, and access markets. We have seen farmers become more productive and improve the quality and value of their produce. This is also contributing to food security and better livelihoods in the communities where we work.” ~ Radoli Shiundu
Farmers who attended the exhibition, including Simon Shiundu and Lilian Akinyi, commended KELCOP for equipping them with skills to improve their farming practices and linking them to markets.
They said the support has enabled them to add value to their products, increase their income, and improve their livelihoods through agriculture.