Nakuru County CECM for Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries Dr Immaculate Maina has commended Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Kenya for its continued role in sensitizing farmers on emerging trends in agriculture.
Speaking over the weekend when representatives from PELUM Kenya paid a courtesy call, the CECM was categorical that flow of information will empower farmers at the grass-root level.
She said the county looks forward to more partnerships with like-minded organizations in boosting and empowering farmers at the grass-root.
While noting that there are few agricultural extension officers due to the fact that many of them are at an advanced age and almost retiring, the CECM said the partnership with grass-root organizations will help address the same.
She was however quick to reveal that the county has gone ahead to adopt farmers call centre; a solution to efficient extension services to farmers.
Nakuru Farmers Call Centre Technology is meant to fill the gap left by a shortage of extension officers.
The innovation enhances the delivery of agricultural extension services through Short Message Service (SMS), WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook and calls.
Farmers are also able to make inquiries by calling or texting experts at the centre.
“As a county, we are very grateful to organizations that are coming on board such as PELUM Kenya and there are many areas we can partner having in mind that we have very few extension officers,” said the CECM.
PELUM Kenya operates within six zones among them Central Rift region and is a network of Civil Society Organizations and NGOs working with small scale farmers in East, Central and Southern Africa.
The Association membership has grown from 25 pioneer members (in 1995) to 283 members in 2018.
PELUM Kenya is the Kenyan country chapter of the PELUM Association and has a membership of 55 Member Organizations.
According to Ms Beth Omae from Central Rift region, their main focus is on policy influence and climate change in Agriculture.
She says they are working with farmers at grass root to ensure farmers resilience to climate change.
“There are many challenges facing farmers among them the climate change and therefore as an organization, we are looking at how to ensure farmers resilience to climate change,” said Ms Omae.
Other areas that PELUM-Kenya looks forward to partner with the county government of Nakuru is Pest and disease control as well as effects of delayed rains where farmers are still facing challenges.
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