Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett giving a public address in a past event. [Photo|Daily Nation]

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Some 3,000 farmers will venture into a competitive avocado and pyrethrum farming for improved livelihoods in Nakuru.

This is after the state Department of Agriculture and the county government rolled out the ambitious economic stimulus programme in Molo on Friday.

Launched by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Dr Willy Bett, the programme seeks to empower farmers to scale up the crops national coverage to tap from the products’ global market the CS describes as lucrative and insatiable for Kenya’s high-quality avocados and pyrethrin.

“In the joint stimulus bid, the two levels of government with the regulation of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) and the revamped Kenya Pyrethrum Regulatory Authority (KPRA) will work with registered private players to ensure farmers access certified seeds and extension services that will help put farmers in the desired competitive space for growth,” said Bett

“KPRA is now fully licensed to produce high productive pyrethrum seeds that will be available to farmers for planting this season adding that unlike in the past, attractive payments and bonuses will be made to farmers upon delivery of their crop at KPRA processing plant in Nakuru,” he added.

During the field day that attracted more than 15,000 farmers drawn from 17 pyrethrum growing Counties, the CS distributed certified 20,000 pyrethrum seedlings and another 10,000 avocado seedlings developed by KEPHIS in its avocado development flagship programme.

The CS urged farmers to work in organised groups for them to easily poise themselves for the multiple benefits that the initiative stands to offer.