Kitui agricultural show returns in July after Sh23m upgrade

The county government will spend Sh23 million to revive Kitui agricultural show that has been moribund for the last six years.

Agriculture CEC Stephen Kimwele said on Tuesday revival of the show requires that amount due to the state of ruin and disuse of the structures at Ithookwe show ground that needs to be rehabilitated and refurbished.

Kimwele, who was addressing the media in his office, lamented that since the event has not taken place from 2016 a lot of  funds must go into putting the structures and the facilities in good working form ahead of the show.

The CEC said the Kitui show and trade fair is scheduled to open its gates  from July 27 to 29 this year.

“At the show ground crooks have taken advantage of the abandoned structures and facilities and have vandalised the. The batteries to the flood lights have been stolen while doors to many buildings have been carted away,” Kimwele said.

In addition to vandalism of machinery and the perimeter fence around the show ground, termites have destroyed many of the structures and buildings.

Kimwele said the high cost of reviving the show was necessary because it will include technologies on climate smart and irrigated agriculture to enhance food production and keep famine at bay.

The CEC said decreased rainfall had occasioned the need to adopt climate smart trends coupled with irrigated agriculture.

"Our Governor Julius Malombe has made no secret about his intentions to end food insecurity in Kitui. He revived the Kitui agricultural show and trade fair so that farmers can learn new technologies to fight hunger," he said.

He said that ending reliance on famine relief food supplies was among Malombe's priorities. He said his ultimate goal was to kick out hunger and food insecurity.

"We are inviting people of Kitui and even outsiders to come to our show and learn proven technology in crop husbandry and even post-harvest preservation of farm yields," the CEC said. 

People coming to the show would get insights on modern ways of livestock keeping and trading and marketing tips.

Kimwele said the Kitui show will provide an opportunity for farmers to acquire new agricultural knowledge and technologies for enhancing production, food security and household incomes.

“The platform will also enable farmers and business community exchange ideas and establish functional business linkages which play a crucial role in promoting agricultural development and economic growth in the county,” he said.

Kitui has experienced a little rain for two weeks despite the farmers expecting rains to help their March-April-May rain season crop to grow to maturity.