Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago has called on the state agricultural crop research institutions to pilot seed varieties in Uasin Gishu County as a way to muscle up diversification.
The Governor spoke about a month after piloting new and certified potato seed variety at his farm in Moiben Sub-County, an area traditionally known for maize growing.
"...Uasin Gishu is the country's food producer, it is therefore important to uplift these farmers to increase productivity for almost every crop," said Mandago.
He added: "...and I call on government research firms to pilot seeds here in Uasin Gishu as a way to support us as we preach this diversification gospel."
Mandago was speaking during a farmers' field and demonstration event in a farm in Ilula, Moiben Sub-County on Friday.
The demonstration farm that hosted the farmers field day has about 4 acres of land under healthy potatoes, and subdivided portions under cabbage, kales and other crops traditionally reserved for other ecosystems.
"This function has worked to demonstrate that our farmers can cultivate other crops other than maize."
"Our farmers have been cultivating maize, whose market seems not much promising at the moment. We need to shift to cash agriculture," added Mandago.
The Governor also asked farmers to ensure that whatever they purchase for growing are certified seeds from Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS).
Through this, he says, farmers will realize increased yield and at the same time working to avoid spread of crop diseases.
Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Andrew Tuimur also said it is paramount to cultivate whole year round.