Farmers in Uasin Gishu have been advised to consider venturing into other farming activities that will guarantee high returns apart from the traditional maize and wheat.
Governor Jackson Mandago says an extensive research has been done across the county and identified five crops that have the ability to do well. Mandago said coffee, avocado, potatoes, pyrethrum, and macadamia have been certified and proved by agricultural officials that can do well in various areas across the county. "We have done wide research on the market availability of these crops, the produce prices and the ability of the crops to thrive in our County and I tell you today that this is not a venture to be second-guessed because you will earn big profits," he said in Eldoret on Wednesday. The vocal governor serving his second term in office impelled farmers from Turbo and Kapseret Sub-Counties to pursue coffee and avocado farming, asking large-scale farmers to embrace horticulture farming by setting aside at least two acres of their land for the same. Mandago who recently diversified into potato farming by planting 20 acres of his farm in Moiben Sub County further noted that pyrethrum and potato farming would be a suitable venture for farmers from Timboroa, Chagaiya, Leinguse and Ainabkoi. "The County Government will provide pyrethrum seeds to farmers but under the condition that they join a cooperative society to benefit from this incentive," said the governor. Mandago reiterated that venturing into macadamia farming is a good way of establishing a pension plan for the farmers, noting that this crop gives more yields than all the mentioned crops.