The National Irrigation Board (NIB) has revealed plans to help rice farmers get easy access to rice seeds and other farm inputs to help boost their harvests.
NIB Ahero Irrigation Scheme Revolving Fund Secretary Jack Ongere says they will embark on production of quality seeds at the scheme to serve Western Irrigation Schemes. The move will also save farmers from travelling long distance, as far as Mwea and Perkerra, in search of good quality seeds.
Ongere said they had planted the new IR 2793 seeds at their 76 acres research station that would ensure that more than 152 tonnes of seeds are produced by January next year.
He added that the move would save rice farmers from the region from losses they had always incurred in buying dusty seeds from other schemes.
Ongere said NIB was committed to streamlining rice farming in Western Kenya. Ongere also revealed that farmers would get the new seeds at a relatively cheaper price of Sh 80 per kilogramme.
“The seeds will be enough to serve Oluch Kimira in Homabay County, Bunyala in Busia County, West Kano and Ahero Irrigation Schemes in Kisumu County,” said Ongere.
He further urged the farmers to diversify by practicing intercropping by planting other crops like water melons, butter nut, vegetables among many others after harvesting their rice.