Farmers in Kisii County have been encouraged to plant horticultural crops to increase food production in the area.
According to a veteran farmer from Mosocho area, Ken Mokora different varieties of vegetables and fruits do well in the county depending on rainfall and availability of water for irrigation.
Mokora said total production of vegetables and fruits in the year 2015 in his farm was marvelous and gave him great income so he would like more youths from the area to ensure that they venture into farming.
“Each year the production in my farm has always increased considering the fact that the region has a constant supply of rain,” he added.
Mokora who was speaking at his farm in Mosocho said the popularity and demand for indigenous vegetables had continued to the increase due to campaigns on their medicinal and nutritional value.
He added that the major fruits planted in the area were bananas, avocadoes, water melons and tree tomatoes, whereas French beans, garden peas, kales, spinach, chilies, tomatoes, local vegetables and bulb onions were the major vegetables.
He asked residents to also plant more avocado trees as they do well in the area and can be used for export and for local consumption.
“The main varieties of avocado grown are Hass and Fuerte with the latter being the main variety grown for export market,” he said.