Uasin Gishu County Agriculture CeC Samson Yego at a past event. [Photo: Joe Khisa]
Newly appointed Uasin Gishu County Agriculture Executive (CeC) Samson Yego has challenged farmers to invest in taking insurance for their crops and livestock.
Speaking after a meeting with farmers representatives from across the county at the Teachers Advisory Centre (TAC) in Eldoret town on Tuesday, Yego said ensuring crops and livestock was the surest way to avoiding loses due to unpredictable climate and diseases.
"We are now encouraging farmers to consider having their crops and livestock insured because in the event of crop failure or death of their livestock they get paid 100 percent by the insurance company," he said.
Several maize farmers were this year affected by crop failure due to prolonged drought as well as fall armyworms invasion which is expected to cause a drop in production by at least 30 percent.
The CeC, however, said the county is looking into ways to help farmers that were affected by this year's unfavorable climate condition.
"We are aware of the challenges farmers went through this season and we've discussed with them at length on possible interventions and we will be looking into it," he said.