Over 14,000 farmers in Nandi are set to benefit from the accessible farm inputs sponsored by nongovernmental organizations.
Following the onset of planting season in the region, the county government entered into a memorandum of understanding with NGOs to foil farmers against exploitative traders selling agricultural inputs.
The certified planting materials would be available across the county courtesy of APOLLO Agriculture in the agrovets across the county, and the registered farmers would get them on credit at standard prices.
According to the county agriculture department Chief officer Wilson Lelei, readily available farming materials enhance timely planting and diversified crop production among the small holder farmers in the region.
“We found that due to current inflation that has caused spiking of fertilizers and planting materials prices, majority of the farmers would not afford to purchase and therfore, NGO’s sponsored initiatives would be more appropriate to caution farmers from economic adversities,” he stated.
The crops including certified Irish potatoes, maize among other horticultural seedlings would be loaned to farmers and expected to settle after harvesting season.
CO Mr Lelei noted that high prices of fertilizers was about to forced farmers to opt out farming in the region, thus claimed the county intervened by introducing APOLLO initiatives to avert food shortages.
“The county seeks to support the value chain and help farmers access standard planting materials to attain food security in the county. And this would achieved by creating more avenues for farmers to adopt other sustainable food crops,” stated Mr Lelei.
Among other agricultural projects set to benefit include dairy and poultry farming. The livestock farmers would be provided with the affordable and certified animal feeds.
The funded farming projects as explained by Apollo Expansion Manager, Peter Muthii, they will be insured against any disastrous eventualities that may cause a lost to the farmers.
“In case of the locust invasion or any natural calamities, we shall able to assess and compensate the affected farmers. Our objective is to help locals make profits out of the farming activities and caution them from harsh economic turbulence,” Mr Muthii stated.
