Written by Eric Lumbasi 2012-07-17 18:14:00 Read 764 Times

One Acre Fund Field Officer Mrs. Dorcas Sitati adressing farmers in Kimilili. [PHOTO|Eric Lumbasi|West Fm]

More than 150 farmers from Chebukwabi location, Kimilili District of Bungoma County under One Acre Fund initiative, have benefitted from free sacks and pesticides to be used during the harvesting season. 

Speaking while handing them over to the farmers, the initiative's Field Officer Dorcas Sitati said its aimed at assisting the farmers to store their maize properly hence eradicate poverty in the region. 

She added that the farmers were also given a metallic shelling gadget to help the farmers ease their work burden. 

The farmers expressed their optimism towards achieving a bumper harvest this season after sowing top quality seeds as well using modern ways of planting. One of the farmers Mr. Allan Mukoboi said last year’s harvest was good having harvested 12 sacks of maize out of his 1/2 acre piece of land. 

He further disclosed that the harvest has partly helped him pay for his siblings school fees as well as provide himself with food in his house. 

 ''I call upon other farmers to take advantage of the fertile soil in this region to capitalize on maize farming in order to be agriculturally stable,” said Allan. 

 However the farmers appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture to construct cereals and produce board store in Kimilili town being at the centre of maize growing regions to enable them have control over the maize prices. 

Elsewhere Kimilili district Co-operative Officer Lawrence Mitunda urged farmers in the district to diversify in their farming activities in order to realize more returns from their input. In an exclusive interview with West fm Mr Mitunda said that apart from farming; fish farming, horticulture and bee keeping should be embraced by farmers to boost their output. 

He disclosed that his department is collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture to advice farmers on proper ways of implementing the activities. 

Further, he called upon coffee societies in the region to employ security guards as well as fence their premises to reduce the risk of coffee thefts that was rampant in the previous year.

Switch to Our Mobile Site