Pyrethrum sector in Narok still in the red, farmers say

Workers attend to a pyrethrum farm

NAROK COUNTY: Pyrethrum farmers have expressed disappointment over the slow progress in the revival of the sector.

They said the sector was still ailing despite the Government injecting over Sh1 billion into the initiative in recent years.

"The Government has given out over Sh1.3 billion in the last five years, but there is nothing to show for it. Pyrethrum farmers do not even receive monthly payments for their deliveries," said Pyrethrum Growers Association Chairman Samuel Kihiu.

Mr Kihiu said Pyrethrum and other Industrial Crops Directorate, which now manages the sector, currently owes farmers Sh50 million for deliveries.

Farmers now want the Government to retain the Pyrethrum Board of Kenya as the marketing agent for pyrethrum even as the sector gears up for liberalisation.

PATENT HOLDER

"We have asked the Ministry of Agriculture to retain PBK as marketing agent for farmers. The Pyrethrum Processing Company proposed by the ministry is a stranger as PBK hold patents for pyrethrum extracts in the country," said Kihiu.

In Narok, the farmers said they have not received payment for deliveries for the last three months.

"The Government gave the sector Sh300 million yet we have not been paid. It should pay farmers before we stop further deliveries," said Samuel Cheluget, the Narok County Pyrethrum Growers Association chairman.

However, Interim head of Pyrethrum and other Industrial Crops Directorate Solomon Odera maintained that efforts to revive the pyrethrum sector are still on course.

Mr Odera, who spoke in his office in Nakuru, said the over Sh600 million allocated to the sector in the last two years has seen farmers who had abandoned the crop start to cultivate it again.

NEW REGULATOR

"Over the last two financial years, the sector has received Sh600 million from the Government targeting specific growth-oriented areas. These include investing on planting materials, paying outstanding dues and maintaining processing factories," Odera notes.

He added that the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority (Affa) has revived Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya to take over commercial operations of the defunct Pyrethrum Board of Kenya.

"There is a Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya incorporated in 1963 which will take over commercial functions of pyrethrum sector. The company will be wholly owned by farmers," Odero said.

He added the directorate is set to pay farmers over Sh3 million for November and December deliveries.

He said they are targeting an output of 600 tonnes up from 400 last year as the sector continues on its revival path.

Odera said revival of the industry will take more years and asked farmers for patience.

In the 1990s, the pyrethrum sector racked in over Sh10 billion in export earnings compared to Sh200 million in 2011.