There are deliberate efforts by the agriculture department of Kisumu County to improve output of products and productivity through introduction of new programs and projects.
The programme includes crops such as maize, sorghum, rice, beans, cassava and sweet potatoes.
Dairy products including milk, eggs, mutton, honey, chevron, poultry, meat, fish and several horticultural crops are also in the programme.
This is due to production figures of major agricultural enterprises in the region which are still below the demand.
“Kisumu County has the potential to produce sufficient food for her projected population of 1,073,066. The county has 149,983 families engaging in production of crops, livestock and fish,” Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma said.
He said that the role of agriculture in sustaining people’s livelihood cannot be overstated.
“Taking cognizance of this, we are aggressively involved in promoting sustainable land use, environmental conservation and climate change through soil conservation works in catchments of Oroba in Muhoroni, Wang’ang’a in Nyando, Katuk Odenyo in Nyakach and Got Nyabondo in Kisumu East,” he added.
The county government has also increased agricultural productivity and output through: extension services to more than 35,510 farmers in the county, organising for aerial sprays in the rice schemes, continued livestock disease surveillance and surveillance of fishing grounds, as well as launching agriculture sector development and support projects.
In addition, we have acquired tractors that are being used in the mechanisation of agriculture.
This increased access to tractors has enhanced better land preparation, consequently increasing crop yields.
Ranguma stated that his government is committed to increased investments in mechanisation and has undertaken to increase the number of tractors to be stationed in each sub county to improve access.
My government in collaboration with partners is also promoting several projects including tissue culture bananas, yellow passions, poultry and dairy value chains, alongside rabbits and bee-keeping and other emerging crops.