Farmers from Eastern Province have been encouraged to grow sorghum in a bid to promote their economic being alongside ensuring food security in the region.
Speaking to journalists in his office on Thursday, the Mavoko Sub-county Deputy Agriculture Officer, Hoseah Swanya said the crop was ideal since it does well in the area.
"I encourage farmers from Eastern Province in its entirety to engage in diversified crop production and give more priorities to sorghum production," said Swanya.
Swanya said the environment and weather condition in Eastern Province favoured the crop as compared to others like maize that needs a lot of rains.
He said the semi-arid region was nationally known to us as infertile and unproductive, a notion he dismissed stating that the area was fertile and among the leading nationally in sorghum and cassava production.
The officer disclosed that other crops like maize, horticulture and fruits needed lots of water, hence farmers who produce them in the region forced to practice irrigation to ensure high yields.
He however called on the government to remove taxes imposed on sorghum production, arguing that it would scare away farmers who were interested in the crop's production.