By Kenan Miruka
Horticulture farmers in Gucha have been trained on new technologies to increase productivity.
In a programme dubbed Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion Unit Project (Shepup) jointly funded by the Government of Kenya and Japan International Cooperation Agency, 23 farmer groups in Gucha have received support.
The project aims at empowering small-scale farmers with technology to increase productivity and improve value addition to their produce besides infrastructure development.
“The principle of the programme is to enable small-scale farmers to plan production activities together, conduct market surveys and link them up with stakeholders so that they can grow to sell as opposed to grow and sell,” said Gucha District Agriculture Officer Mulei Mutiso. He spoke during a farmer Business Linkage Stakeholder Forum that brought together farmers, stakeholders from the financial sector, local stockists and private sector.
Shepup national unit leader Francesca Malenge and Kenya Agricultural Research Institute Kisii principal research scientist Nasambu Okoko facilitated the forum. “Since the project began, nine groups have so far gone through the training package and after a baseline survey, we have introduced interventions which have borne fruits,” he said.
“One group, Ekebanda Women Group, was linked with Kenya Seed and trained on production of maize varieties. They have been able to increase maize yield from 15 bags per acre to 32 bags,” added the officer.
Mr Mutiso said farmers were learning through demonstrations and this has increased demand for the service. Farmers in the programme grow crops like tomatoes, kale, beetroot, carrots, and capsicum as well as seedling production.
“Focus is on ensuring farmers plan ahead in order to know the timing, quantity and quality required, target market and expected income,” added Mutiso. The ministry is planning eight demonstrations on new farming technologies this season.
