•At least 3,000 farmers undertake various agricultural activities under the Kimira Oluch Smallholder Farm Improvement Project.
•Besides crop farming, other farmers LBDA is targeting are those in poultry keeping, agro forestry, animal husbandry among
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The Lake Basin Development Authority has began to train farmers in Homa Bay County to boost farm production.
The farmers include those practising their agricultural activities under the Sh5.6 billion Kimira Oluch irrigation scheme.
Currently, at least 3000 farmers undertake various agricultural activities under the Kimira Oluch Smallholder Farm Improvement Project (KOSFIP).
The agency is training the farmers on modern farming techniques including mechanisation to overcome contemporary challenges like change in weather patterns.
LBDA chairman Odoyo Owidi said the farmers are being trained in different groups.
“There in need for the farmers to grow from subsistence to commercial farming for more production. This will make them register with cooperative societies for more benefits from government,” Owidi said.
The chairman said his agency has modalities of getting the farmers markets for their produce.
He announced that they are linking up the farmers to different markets as a way of encouraging them to increase farm production.
LBDA is providing the farmers with subsidised farm inputs like seeds, pesticides and fertiliser in the groups.
Besides crop farming, other farmers LBDA is targeting are poultry keeping, agro forestry, animal husbandry among others.
“The government initiated Kimira Oluch irrigation scheme to alleviate shortage of food. The activities LBDA is engaging farmers in are meant to promote food production,” he added.
Speaking on Friday when they visited Nyawest Integrated Agricultural Centre group at Karabok in Kasipul constituency, the LBDA official said his agency has set aside funds to purchase farm produce as a way of market provision.
He said the produce, especially grain crops, will be stored before they get them market.
“Some of the farm produce including beans will be processed into finished products so that they can fetch a higher market price. This would be to the advantage of the farmers who will get more profit,” Owidi said.