More than 500 farmers in Western and Rift valley have been trained on the good selection of farm inputs to boost their production.
The farmers were sensitised on proper seed selection and where to access them during this year season of planting.
Speaking during the Mazao forum which brought together all agro dealers in the country held in Kisumu yesterday, the Forum Coordinator Anastesia Mbatia said all farmers will be educated on seed selection.
Mbatia said most of the agro dealers and farmers suffer in the hands of con men and women who supply fake seeds to them thereby incurring heavy losses.
This training is basically to eradicate fake seeds from the market and improve crop production among farmers, she said.
Mbatia said they will carry out comprehensive sensitization to all agro dealers and farmers to ensure they acquire quality seeds for planting.
She said: “We organised the Mazoa Bora forum with all agro dealers in Western and Rift valley regions to sensitise them on how they can select proper farm inputs more important the seeds for planting.”
Mbatia said they will help farmers to acquire proper seeds and avoid the fake seeds being supplied by unscrupulous businesspeople.
She added that the agro dealers who deal in crop seeds play vital role in promoting food security in Kenya.
Mbatia said they have also launched the Mbegu Choise system where farmers and agro dealers can access information on the selection of quality farm input through their smart phones.
“The new digital system will help farmers identify genuine and proper seeds for planting through smartphone,” she said.
Farmers who attended the training had a chance to purchase seeds for planting early to avoid buying the important farm inputs at hiked prices from the middlemen during planting season rush hours.