County adopts ripping technology to boost farm production

Kitui government has launched a tractor-drawn ripper plough to address food insecurity.

The county has partnered with Women Empowerment through Climate Smart Agriculture organisation to spearhead uptake of the new technology.

Agriculture Executive Stephen Kimwele said the project will kickstart in Kitui West and Kitui South subcounties.

The initiative is funded by the Korea International Corporation Agency in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization, UN Women and the Kitui government.

It seeks to help farmers adopt climate-smart agriculture practices and is focusing on empowering women farmers.

The initiative is also equipping agricultural extension officers with timely and user-friendly climate information services.

Kimwele described initiative as a viable strategy to fight hunger.

"This initiative is among many others that Governor Julius Malombe's administration has put in place to help farmers increase farm yields and enhance food security," he said.

He spoke during a demonstration of the tractor-drawn ripper in Kyenge in Kitui West and Kitui South subcounties.

Kimwele distributed drought-tolerant crops seeds to farmers and encouraged them embrace modern technologies to reap maximum benefits.

He said the tractor-drawn ripper minimises soil disturbance, loosens the soil and aerates it while leaving organic properties on top for good crop health.

"We have so far revived and serviced all the tractors that were grounded and dispersed them to various wards," Kimwele said. 

He urged the youth to embrace agriculture as a means of earning a living.

"There is money in agriculture considering that 30 per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product comes from Agriculture," Kimwele said.