Homa Bay: Farmers to get tractors in county agriculture initiative

The county government is planning to give a local farmers’ self-help group tractors.

The group dubbed Kimira Oluch Smallholder Farm Improvement Project (KOSFIP) operates in Karachuonyo and Rangwe constituencies.

The group is also set to benefit from a Sh6 billion irrigation project, which is being set up in the area. Already, construction of canals has been completed.

According to county officials, more than 4,000 households are expected to benefit from the irrigation project.

Homa Bay County Secretary Isaiah Ogwe and Agriculture Executive Aguko Juma told farmers who want to benefit from such help from the county, to register self-help groups.

“The county government has eight tractors for ploughing. We want more farmers to register in groups so that we give them tractors,” Mr Ogwe said.

He noted that the new plans would make Homa Bay self-reliant in food production.

Ogwe also said the national government had promised that the irrigation project would be operational beginning next month.

“The Principal Secretary for East African Community and Regional Development whose docket is implementing this project has promised us that it will be operational in April,” said Ogwe.

“Thereafter, the project will be handed over to the county government.”

Ogwe said the county administration would support farmers in growing a variety of crops.

“We want to be serious in what we do. Let all farmers form groups so that they can benefit from county help,”Ogwe averred.

Mr Juma on his part complained about the manner in which youths had abandoned farming in the area.

He said the county might not be food secure in future if youths failed to embrace agriculture.

“It is unfortunate that many youths are staying idle and wait for old people to till the land. I urge them to embrace crop production because they are the people with energy,” Juma said.

He expressed concern that a number of youths had begun a tendency of stealing crops produced by elderly farmers in the area.

“It is wrong that a old man can grow water melons and then the youths end up stealing them,” Juma added. “I call on security personnel to take legal action against the culprits,” Juma added.