The Nakuru County government has launched the Free Seed Programme (FSP) that will see 1.1 million seedlings issued to pyrethrum farmers in a bid to revive the faltering agricultural sector. In the first phrase, Governor Kinuthia Mbugua issued 165,000 seedlings to 28 farmers in Kinungi area of Naivasha. Each farmer received 3,000 seedlings for every quarter-acre piece of land. “Pyrethrum is a major earner especially for Kinungi where it contributes immensely to the overall production,” Governor Mbugua said. “We will be delivering 2,500 more seedlings to each farmer in the course of the exercise to enhance production,” he added. The seed programme will see more than 200 farmers benefit in Naivasha sub-county. The governor said that other sub-counties that will get free seedlings are Molo, Kuresoi North and Kuresoi South. "The county will distribute 1.1 million seedlings to 163 farmers in the region. This will bring the overall number to 360 farmers in all the pyrethrum growing areas,” Mbugua added. Nakuru County has set aside Sh11 million in the 2014/15 budget to revive pyrethrum growing. The county government also plans to revive the Pyrethrum Board of Kenya (PBK) pyrethrum nursery at Kabazi. Already, 10 acres out of the 90 available have been ploughed and harrowed in readiness for the seedlings production. The governor called on all the beneficiaries of the programme to put in extra effort to ensure the initiative succeeds. He said that all stakeholders should play their part and support the venture. Decline in pyrethrum production came about due to non-payment for delivered produce, competition from synthetics produced in other countries, poor farming conditions, lack of credit facilities and incentives.

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