Farmers want State to increase allocations to North rift for food security

ELDORET, KENYA: Farmers in the North Rift have called on the government to invest more on subsidies in the region because it had capacity to increase yields.

The farmers observe that the current imbalance in production and market prices on maize have denied them opportunity to earn better returns thus discouraging them from the sub-sector.

Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) director Mr Kipkorir Menjo notes that due to the high cost of implements, farmers have failed to use recommended amounts of fertilizer and other inputs thus lowering production per acreage.

Menjo avers that the local maize producers in Uasin Gishu County can achieve more than 20 bags of 90 kgs in each acre if they access affordable inputs at required time.

"If farmers can access subsidised inputs there is potentials of producing more than 20 kgs per acre hence they will not suffer losses with the current prices of Sh2,300 per 90 kg bag," says Menjo.

He opines that; "Empowering farmers requires minimal support through availing subsidised inputs so that they can upscale their production."

The farmers Representative urges the government to direct part of the funds that had initially been budgeted for Galana Kulalu irrigation project to financially support other agricultural institutions after its funding was scaled down from Sh 14 billion to Sh 7.2 billion.

"Since the budgeting of Galana Kulalu has been scaled down from Sh 14 billion to Sh 7.2 billion, the balance of Sh 6.8 billion should be directed to other agricultural institutions including Kenya Seed Company (KSC), Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) and Agricultural development Corporation (ADC) among others," He says.