1500 Homa Bay farmers benefit from sorghum seed distribution

Homa Bay government has partnered with two humanitarian organizations to address food shortage among the identified 1500 families in three constituencies.

The families were given 9,350kg of sorghum seeds to plant this season to enable them to address possible shortages in future.

The shortage was occasioned by the drought experienced in the last season. Sorghum is a drought-resistant crop.

The devolved unit partnered with the First Bridge Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) to address the shortage of food.

German Technical Corporation is also involved in the partnership that seeks to create wealth for the people of Homa Bay through agriculture.

Governor Gladys Wanga and First Bridge Foundation director Bernard K’Ocholla flagged off the distribution of the sorghum seeds in a programme aimed at combating the effects of drought in Homa Bay

Wanga said the programme will directly help the identified families by engaging them in food production.

The beneficiaries hail from 11 wards such as Ruma-Kaksingri, Kaksingri East, Kaksingri-West, Gwassi North, and Gwassi South in Suba South constituency.

Wards in Suba North constituency include Lambwe and Gembe while in Ndhiwa constituency the selected wards are Kanyamwa Kosewe, South Kabuoch, Kanyikela, Kanyadoto, and Kwabwai.

 They were selected after a scientific study established that they were the ones who were greatly affected by drought in the past.

 “Beneficiaries were the hardest hit by drought. They deserve to benefit since members of the community participated in identifying them,” Wanga said.

Speaking at the county headquarters on Monday, Wanga urged the beneficiaries to embark on planting so that they can realize yields.

The sorghum seeds will mature in three months before it is harvested.

Homa Bay Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga who is also the executive member for agriculture witnessed the flagging off.

Each of the families will also get a total of Sh12,000 for upkeep as they wait for the maturity of the crops.

 “Our partnership also involves the distribution of animal feeds to the farmers. The cash will help them in upkeep,” the governor said.

 Recently, the devolved unit finalized the registration of farmers.

More than 245,000 farmers were registered to benefit from different government programmes.

Wanga said her administration has listed agriculture as one of the priority areas.

“Crop and animal production is one of the ways we can fight poverty,” she added.

 K’Omollo said the seed that was given out is climate-resilient and will mature with little rainfall.

He encouraged farmers who got the seeds to plant the crop.

“A follow-up will be done on areas where the seeds were distributed. We appeal to farmers to make the programme successful because it’s meant to improve their lives,” K’Omollo said.

First Bridge Foundation will identify markets for the farmers after harvest.

“Anyone facing challenges is free to reach out to our field officers who are always really to offer help,” he said.

Magwanga said the programme has been made possible through a good working relationship with the national government.

“Let farmers take advantage of El Nino rains to plant more crops and make Homa Bay food secure,” Magwanga said.