Wanga asked residents registering as farmers in the county to divulge the needed information to enable them get accurate data.
The county government is shifting its focus to start growing crops such as oil palm, cotton and sunflower among others.
It aims at engaging farmers in producing the crops to empower them economically and fight poverty. Production of groundnuts is also expected to be increased.
Wanga said Homa Bay has the potential of growing those crops in a large scale and be a leading county in the lake region.
The governor said they have realised that seven out of eight sub-counties in Homa Bay can support the growth of those edible oil crops.
“My administration is keen on the ongoing registration of farmers because the data obtained will be used to identify farmers we’ll support to grow the crops,” Wanga said.
Speaking when she oversaw the registration at Karogo village in West Kamagak ward, Kasipul constituency on Monday, the governor said up to 75 per cent of people in the county depend on farming as their source of income.
Some of the information being captured is biodata of the farmer, the size of the land, types of crops they have been growing and method of cultivation. Farmers are also asked the type of livestock they keep.
Kenya Crops and Dairy Market System has undertaken tests in Homa Bay and identified the acidity or alkalinity of the soil.
The county government is using the results to advise farmers on the best fertiliser to use for crop production.
According to Wanga, many farmers in Homa Bay are limited to growing crops such as maize, beans, sorghum and other common grains.
The subsistence method of crop production does not bring enough profit to farmers.
She asked residents to start focusing on the new crops and increase production of others whose propagation is on the decline.
Wanga is more interested in edible oil which she said will eliminate poverty in the county.
“We are pushing for farmers to grow oil palm because of the benefits it has. We have already identified regions where it can do best and we will support farmers to propagate it," she added.
In company of her deputy Oyugi Magwanga and agriculture chief officer Samuel Owigo, Wanga said the government will prioritise the registered famers when distributing subsidised fertiliser and other inputs.
At least 500,000 farmers will be registered in the county. Wanga said the information should be accurate to enable her government to make good plans.
“Anyone who does not register will not benefit from farm inputs the government will be giving. A voucher will be issued after registration and it is what will be used to get inputs," she said.
Magwanga, who also serves as the county agriculture executive, said more than 570 enumerators have been trained on how the exercise will be conducted.
He said they will be in the field for 21 days while collecting information from farmers.
“Homa Bay has capacity to grow such new crops. The registration data will enable us provide support where necessary,” Magwanga said.
Agricultural and field extension officers have been hired to sensitise farmers on the best practices.
This will enable the farmers to acquire knowledge on some of activities that can ensure maximum production.
"The data of farmers are what will inform the number of the officers to be employed in wards. Enumerators should therefore be persuasive in their work to enable them to take data of many farmers," Magwanga said.
