New technologies boost food security in Kenya

NAKURU: Lack of modern farming technologies and skills have contributed to food insecurity, experts warn.

FMD East Africa managing director Fergus Robley notes that this factor continues to bedevil the Kenyan farmer leading to low yields which discourage more from venturing into the lucrative sector.

The Ministry of Agriculture has thus been encouraging small-scale farmers to produce enough for family consumption and surplus for sale through conservation technology.

The government has also been providing loans to youths through various banks to venture into agribusiness. Robley says the country should thus gear towards technology in farming for farmers to get maximum yields.

“The world is changing every day which requires that farmers adapt to modern farming technology for instance use of proper tractors that are easily maintained,” says Robley.

He says Massey Ferguson is among machinery companies that have been working with Kenyan farmers since 1958 and has been producing durable and easily maintained tractors for tillage among other farm practices. The company has also been encouraging farmers more so youth to venture into mechanised farming by supplying various farm machinery at affordable prices.

Robley says the company is working on financial package to open up market for emerging farmers aged between 25 and 45 years.

“The future of the African economy is in agriculture. Mechanisation is the only way we can guarantee food security. That is why FMD has come up with a financial package that will enable youths acquire loans from various banks to acquire capital into agribusiness,” he says.

Massey Ferguson embarked on a research in six African countries among them, Kenya, to try and find out what the farmer would like specified on a tractor for Africa.

During the research, Robley says they visited several farmers who provided mechanisation expectation that would help in agricultural production at a lower cost.

“Expectation of farmers for the machine included improved hydraulics, lifting capacity and better ergonomics and better fuel consumption and low maintenance cost,” he says.

He notes that FMD East Africa and Massey Ferguson is in the process of unveiling new tractor models built for Africa to woo small and large scale farmers into agribusiness for food sustainability and economic improvement.