Migori county government has distributed farm input worth Sh28.1million to farmers ahead of the long rains.
The 16,470 farmers were from all the 40 wards.
This is an upgrade from the maize and bean seeds worth Sh15 million that were distributed during the last planting season.
The farm input were flagged at Lichota town by Governor Ochillo Ayacko.
“This planting season we have not only increased the quantity but also added sunflower, rice and sorghum seeds to farmers and increased the number of distribution points,” Ayacko said.
He said the move was meant to make the county food secure and open more cultivation lands.
“We have been coordinating with farmers by providing affordable tractor services to plough fields and we have managed to increase production,” Ayacko said.
Migori will distribute 53,100 kg of seeds which will target 12,900 acres of land.
The county has a pilot project for sunflower oil production at cottage industry level to help fight high cost of living.
It plans to distribute sunflower oil pressing machines in all the wards.
“We are excited to open up more opportunity for cottage industry oil production and by the time we are harvesting sunflowers we will be ready with oil pressing machines to boost value addition,” he said.
Lucas Mosenda, Agriculture executive said the seeds are certified and specific to the climate condition of the area.
“We have started by opening up support of rice with certified seeds, we still import rice as a country and cooking oil and we will reverse that even in villages,” he said.
Grace Akinyi, a rice farmer from Nyatike who benefitted from the seeds described the move as a blessing.
She said she will open up three more acres for cultivation
“Rice farming is still new in Nyatike and this support will open up more farming opportunities,” Akinyi said.
