Siaya: Tractors Unveiled By Governor Orengo Available for Rainy Season Ploughing, Sylvester K’Okoth

Siaya Agriculture CECM Sylvester K’Okoth has been acclaimed as one of the hardest working CECMs in the whole republic. Photo | Directorate of Communication, County Government of Siaya

Saying there’s a Bill in the County Assembly that was tabled with the aim of creating a Siaya County Mechanisation Services Unit, K’Okoth revealed that currently the tractors are under the Department of Agriculture and are parked at the six sub-County headquarters of Alego-Usonga, Gem, Rarieda, Bondo, Ugunja and Ugenya.

The CECM wondered why there was so much misinformation circulating on social media about the whereabouts of the tractors while nobody ever seems to ask about lorries, excavators and other machinery owned by the county government and which may have to be parked at the yards for certain periods.

He said the tractors which cost the county government KES 31 million are utilized during the rainy season

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“Tractors are hardware that require lubricants, oiling and repairs which have to be budgeted for. Apart from the seven tractors launched by Governor Orengo we inherited other serviceable tractors from the previous regime and this does not mean the county government has intention of venturing into business. The role of government is not to engage in business but to create a conducive environment for private sector players to benefit,” said K’Okoth.

The CECM added that just like the bursary award system tractors are meant to benefit most vulnerable farmers and not all farmers in the county.

Stressing that subsidy programs are for the most vulnerable persons in society, K’Okoth said during the last planting season the county government of Siaya gave out 26 metric tonnes of sunflower seed and 20 metric tonnes of cotton seed. This is beside the regular issue certified maize seeds and fertilizer.

“Siaya County has 2535 acres of arable land that can be productive. 45 to 50 percent of that land is idle owing to a lack of funds to hire machines. The tractors are for creating demand and transforming agriculture from the oxen and jembe to machine use. Already we have rolled out land lease agreement programs encouraging youth and women groups to lease out idle land from the owners so that they can get larger tracts on which to practice mechanised production.”

He gave the example of farmers in Uasin Gishu and Nandi counties where after being jump-started with subsidies from the government farmers are now capable of independently owning personal tractors.

Seven tractors valued at KES 31 million were launched by Governor James Aggrey Bob Orengo late last year. Photo | Directorate of Communication, County Government of Siaya

He singled out the farm inputs outlet Avepo as a leading stakeholder in the farming industry in Siaya and said the county government would support this initiatives rather than replicate or compete in the business of supplying mundane things such as vaccines for chicken.

Mr. Sylvester K’Okoth concluded that in three weeks time the tractors will be ready and available for hire from sub-County stations at the subsidized price of KES 2,500 for tilling an acre.

“Those who have been asking where are the tractors should now come out in January, February and March during the long rain season and tell us what acreage they intend to till.”