Arid areas to get seeds worth Sh22m ahead of rains

Pastoralist communities and those living in arid and semi-arid areas will benefit from seeds and seedlings worth Sh22 million, to be distributed ahead of the coming short rains.

The pulses, cereal and fruit seeds and seedlings will be issued to at least 60,000 households within a month.

This as more than 200,000 households in 21 counties await the benefits of the project in the next month.

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The first batch of seedlings will be distributed to the counties of Turkana, West Pokot, Baringo, Samburu, Isiolo and Marsabit.

Agriculture Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Anne Nyaga said yesterday the farming communities would also be issued with kitchen garden starter kits and fodder as a complete package for their planting and animal feed needs.

Speaking at the flagging off of the initiative at Kilimo House in Nairobi, she said the project would give the communities food security amid the pandemic.

“To address the need for food and nutrition security in the areas, as well as income generation, the ministry through the coordination unit has planned to set up demonstrations for food crops including the kitchen garden and home based gardens, fodder production, irrigated agriculture as a Covid-19 response,” said the CAS.

The project has been funded by the Africa Development Bank, a grant from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme and the government.

In May, the Statet distributed potato seeds to six counties, aimed at raising the annual production level of potatoes from its current 6,500 tonnes.

The move saw farmers in Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Bomet and Nyandarua counties get seeds and basic planting materials.