Kwale County Launches Subsidized Agricultural Support Program

Kwale, Kenya – Kwale Governor, Fatuma Achani, has inaugurated a program for distributing subsidized agricultural resources and farm inputs to local farmers in preparation for the upcoming long rainy season. This initiative is set to benefit farmers across the 20 administrative wards of the coastal county.

According to Kenya News Agency, the county government is in the process of distributing a variety of farming essentials. These include certified seeds and fertilizers, knapsacks, power sprayers, pipes, insecticides, fungicides, and spray agricultural adjuvants. The Governor encouraged farmers to prepare for the planting season, taking full advantage of the expected rains.

This agricultural support initiative is part of the county’s strategy to enhance food security. It aims to support and empower local small-scale farmers, thereby boosting the agricultural sector. Achani emphasized that this program is designed to increase the productive capacity of smallholder farmers, reduce poverty in rural areas, and open up investment opportunities in agriculture. This is expected to create jobs, increase production, and contribute to food and nutritional security in the region.

Speaking at the County Headquarters during the flag-off ceremony for these agricultural inputs, Achani highlighted the importance of these resources in improving farm yields. She cautioned farmers against selling the provided inputs, urging them to use them effectively to develop agriculture in the county. The Governor emphasized the need for full utilization of these inputs to enhance farm output.

The agricultural sector remains a high priority for the Achani administration, with the goal of stimulating local food production, achieving self-sufficiency, and improving the livelihoods of local farmers and residents. The Governor praised the smallholder farmers for their resilience and dedication to agriculture, especially in the face of climate change challenges.

In recent times, the Kwale County Government has distributed hundreds of tonnes of improved seeds, fertilizers, bulls, dairy cattle, and Galla goats to enhance local farming. Additionally, tractors have been provided for free plowing to increase the area under cultivation, along with agricultural education to improve livestock and crop quality.

Governor Achani also mentioned the government’s commitment to establishing and reviving irrigation schemes to boost agricultural productivity and enhance food security. She encouraged local communities to allocate land for these projects, emphasizing that irrigated farming will promote more food production and crop diversification. The small-scale irrigation schemes, part of the county’s rural development strategy, are intended to help lift rural communities and smallholder farmers out of poverty. The focus is also on making agricultural production more sustainable through support for farmers engaging in irrigated crop production.