Agencies: Give farmers more funds

By Daniel Nzia

Farmers have been urged to form groups to attract financial support from donors to boost food production.

Action Aid Technical Advisor Philip Kilonzo said co-operative societies play a key role in addressing hunger and poverty.

He says relief food dependency could end with access to water and appropriate level of support to small-scale farmers through co-operatives.

Kilonzo said Action Aid would continue partnering with the Government in the promotion of water availability at household level.

Food and Agriculture Organisation representative in Kenya Dan Rugabira said people could produce enough food for domestic use and sale through strong farmers co-operative groups.

“When people come together, they can be reached easily for any form of assistance and this will boost their production and conquer hunger,” said Rugabira.

James Kamunge of World Food Programme said food insecure residents in Mwingi District have benefited from Sh230m donation in one year.

He said WFP has empowered 10,000 smallholder farmers countrywide to improve the quality of their produce through best post-harvest handling process in three years

The agencies reiterated their commitment to enhanced partnership with the Government and other stakeholders in water development sector to facilitate farmers venture into irrigation.

“We challenge the Government to allocate more resources in the water sector as the commodity provides certainty in food production for both domestic and market,” said Kilonzo.

He spoke during a field day organised by Mwingi District Steering Group at the farm of Mr Munyoki Musya in Kitui County.

He reiterated WFP’s commitment in partnering with the kenya government and other stakeholders for the objective of eliminating hunger and malnutrition.

Kamunge said WFP will continue to getting involved in activities that empower food insecure communities to enable them produce food.