Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa during a service at Amalemba Friends Church on Sunday
The Kakamega government has launched a programme to strengthen agricultural extension services to improve food security.
Governor Fernandes Barasa said the Farmer Field School programme is central to his administration's efforts to transform agriculture through knowledge transfer, innovation and farmer empowerment.
Barasa spoke when he presided over the training of 168 trainers of trainers under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) at the Salvation Army, Western Territorial headquarters in Kakamega on Tuesday.
"I challenge our graduates to become champions of modern farming by passing on the skills they have acquired to thousands of farmers across the county," Barasa said.
"You are now ambassadors of modern farming practices. Your success will directly contribute to improved household incomes, enhanced food security and a stronger agricultural economy for Kakamega county."
Agriculture executive Mophat Mandela noted that food security is one of the county's six points agenda to improve livelihoods.
Mandela highlighted several milestones achieved since the NAVCDP programme was rolled out, including the registration of 279,384 farmers.
"More than 172,000 of them have redeemed subsidised fertiliser e-vouchers through the National Fertilizer Subsidy Programme, significantly boosting food production," he said.
Kakamega has so far received Sh659.45 million under the World Bank-supported NAVCDP programme. Of this amount, Sh102.8 million has already been disbursed to saccos, cooperatives and community-driven development committees to support agricultural production.
Through NAVCDP, the county has identified at least one sacco in every ward to provide affordable credit to farmers, signed more than 6,400 tripartite agreements linking farmer groups, producer organizations and the saccos.
The pact has also ensured disbursement of Sh6.9 million in inclusion grants to 23 saccos across the county. An additional Sh7.5 million has been allocated as matching grants during the current financial year, with plans to double the allocation next year.
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