Farmers have been encouraged to form groups in which the government can use to channel subsidized farm inputs to improve food production.
Philip Obade, County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries said farmers should form co-operatives as it would be easier to work with them for the provision of services.
This is after it was announced that farmers ares set to benefit from Sh16.1 million for planting and top dressing courtesy of the Agricultural Department.
This is through a program dubbed ‘County Accelerated Agricultural Input Access’ which is keen on enhancing food security and increase the income of farmers in the county by promoting good agricultural practices for improved productivity.
Mr Obade said they should also liaise with their respective ward agriculture extension officers where they will get certified notifications which will enable them purchase fertilizers from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) at subsidized rates.
He said they have opened satellite depot stores in Pap-Onditi, Nyakach, Ahero, Nyando, Kajulu, Kisumu East and Kombewa in Seme sub-counties to enable farmers get fertilizers at subsidized rates from the NCPB.
“I urge our local farmers to form co-operatives which will enable them maximize on their profits," he said.
The fertilizers will be distributed to vulnerable farmers in the 35 wards across the county where it is estimated that about 700 farmers will benefit from the first phase of the program.
Other seeds that have been distributed to farmers in the County include sorghum, rice, cassava and sweet potatoes which will greatly boost food production in the region.