Kitui farmers have earned Sh2.5 billion from the sale of dengu (green grams) courtesy of the 'Dengu Revolution' initiated by the county government in October 2017.
Kitui Agriculture executive Emmanuel Kisangau said the county, with support from the Kenya Red Cross Society, invested Sh200 million in the project.
“We put in the Sh200 million to buy dengu seeds, which were distributed to farmers. The money also went into provision of pesticides, extension services and logistics,” Kisangau said.
He spoke during the Kitui green grams stakeholders’ forum at Kitui Kefri centre on Wednesday. He said Kitui farmers produced 50, 000 metric tonnes of dengu between the March-May 2018 long rain season.
Kisangau said the crop has the potential to turn around the economy of Kitui. He said Kitui's weather is favourable for the crop, which is drought tolerant, and there is a huge market.
“We are assured of a seamless market for dengu locally. Kenya is a net importer of ndengu. We only need to strengthen our production,” Kisangau said.
He, however, noted that low production means farmers do not reap maximum benefit.
“The production is too low such that farmers produce two bags of dengu per acre. That is wasteful. We need to increase the number of bags per acre because it means more money,” he said.
Kisangau said the ndengu approach was to help end the vicious cycle of famine that occasionally hit the county.
