Siaya: Community Health Promoters to be Used in Distribution of Subsidized Fertilizer

By Eric Omwombo 

Each of the 10,000 famers set to benefit from the government’s inputs subsidies will have to pay Sh 200 and Sh 600 for a packet of certified maize seeds(2Kg) and fertilizer respectively.
In the previous year, farmers received free packets of maize seeds but paid for a fertilizer(KES 600).

The distribution of the agriculture subsidies will be rolled out by the community health promoters who are conversant with the farmers at the grassroots and the geographical area.

Fertilizers and seeds will be transported from the headquarters to the stores at the dispensaries for ease access by farmers
This was said by Governor James Orengo while he flagged off the distribution of the subsidies.

So far, 28 Metric tons of certified maize and 55.6 metric tons of fertilizer have been procured by the county government of Siaya.
“We have also procured tractor hire services at KES 15 Million while maize seeds and fertilizer consumed KES 35 million and Sh 19.9 million respectively,” said Orengo.

Together with our e voucher scheme that saw our farmers benefiting from Ksh 230,000 worth of the subsidies, we are committed towards booting food production in Siaya.

The aim of the program is to ensure households are food secure, empower livelihoods from the increased productivity and see to it that 10,000 of farmers get subsidies to ensure farming outputs.

Orengo emphasized on the need for everyone, especially the youths to engage in farming as the incentives from the Government were not sustainable and directed that every farmers to embrace the subsidies.

Each of the 10,000 famers is to get a packet of Maize at Sh 200. NPK fertilizer, and Urea fertilizer

The Governor called on the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items and avoid the temptation of selling them.,

“Agriculture remains the priorities of the Nyalore led administration and he shall support it to fully exploit the great Agricultural potentials of the Siaya .

Agriculture chief officer Elizabeth Adongo said the distribution of the items to the beneficiaries will help protect the livelihoods and food security of the poor and vulnerable families, as well as facilitate the recovery of local economic activities.

She revealed that distribution of the seedlings to the beneficiaries was spread across Siaya with a view to promoting locally adapted sustainable land and water strategies, as well as the use of modern technology to achieve the desired results.

We have also kicked off campaign against suppressing or eradicating striga weed that frustrated our yields,” said Adongo.

“We are also seeing to it that our cows, livestock and poultry value chains thrives,” said Adongo adding that her department is fighting the Newcastle diseases that were affecting paultry.

To fight the striga, said Okoth, we have embarked on improving the soil health and also integrated soil fertility management. we are also improving fish for health and wealth

The assembly Agriculture chairman Fredrick Omoro noted that food is health and called for the government to also purchase Shoghurm seeds for famers to plant in two seasons now that the climatic conditions and fertilizer favour it’s growth in the region.

“Research has revealed that Siaya can do sorghum twice in a year and if it’s embrace it can fetch famers good money.

 

ADVERTISEMENT dalanews.co.ke https://g.page/r/CerTmAWCtzj4EBM/review ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ÿÛ C