Over 5,000 farmers are set to be trained on modern farming technologies to enable them to increase production as planting season begins.
The farmers will also benefit from linkages to agricultural innovations to help them maximise on their production and boost the country's food and nutrition security.
A two-day Kilimo Biashara Expo organised by Kenya Agricultural Livestock and Research Organisation on March 14 and 15 at Kalro Seeds headquarters in Gatanga, Murang’a county, will bring together over 100 exhibitors in the agricultural sector who will train the farmers.
Kalro Seeds director Dr Robert Musyoki who spoke at a media briefing meeting on Monday said different firms will be showcasing and introducing varieties of seeds to farmers and at the same time educating them on how to best grow them for maximum production.
Dr Musyoki said Kalro has also eased access to quality and certified seeds for farmers across the country to ensure they produce enough and generate income from their venture.
Some of the seeds farmers will access at low prices include beans, green grams, sorghum, millet, cow peas, maize, rice, wheat, Irish potatoes, sunflower and soya beans. They will also access various fruit tree seedlings including avocado, mango, macadamia, citrus, pawpaw, TC Bananas, Cassava passion fruit among others.
The director raised concerns that the use of certified seeds by farmers in the country is very low thus resulting in minimal harvest. He cited beans saying farmers plant between 3-5 per cent of certified seeds.
This, he blamed on the lack of requisite information and knowledge by farmers on the varieties of seeds to plant in different ecological zones.
He called on farmers to embrace use of certified planting materials saying they are guaranteed of high yields, high returns and tolerance to common pests and diseases. He pointed out that recycling seeds results in poor harvest.
“Kalro has been at the forefront in the production of climate smart varieties that will do well under these challenges. In addition, Kalro has developed digital technologies that provide real time advice on weather patterns and ideal crops for every season and region.
The director disclosed that Kalro has embarked on large scale production of climate resilient and climate adaptive varieties of planting materials as well as those that can withstand pests and diseases, to enable the country to be food-secure amid the global climate change.
County governments will be trained on industrial crops production so that they can later introduce the technologies to farmers in their respective regions. Some of the industrial crops include Cotton, Castor and Hemp.
“We want the county governments to come and pick the technologies that are suitable for their respective regions and develop the industrial crops production. This will create jobs and revive industries and go a long way in boosting our economy,” he said.
The director also pointed out that farmers will be introduced to new innovations geared towards reducing the cost of production and especially on labour.
He said small scale farmers who cannot afford huge farm equipment like combine harvesters, planters, threshers among others, will be introduced to more economical and efficient innovations that will enable them boost their production while cutting the production costs.
At the same time, Dr Musyoki said experts will also train farmers on post harvest practices and value addition, noting with concern that farmers lose 40 per cent of their produce to poor post harvest handling of the crop.
James Opere from Sakata Seeds Kenya called on farmers to seek requisite information on the varieties of the planting materials from certified dealers so as not to fall prey to fraudsters selling fake seeds.
Boniface Macharia, a farmer from Gatanga subcounty hailed the expo as a shot-in-the-arm for farmers. He said they will now get equipped with requisite knowledge and skills to enable them maximise on their production with an assurance of getting better earnings from their farming.
