Siaya: Farmers in Siaya county have been urged to address soil health if they are to get better yields.

According to Kenya News Agency, Vincent Okoth, soils in the County are becoming increasingly acidic, necessitating urgent action to reverse this trend.

Speaking during an agricultural field day held at the Avepo Smart Farm, Mbaga, on the outskirts of Siaya town, the Director identified Ugenya, Gem, Alego, and Ugunja as the areas most affected by soil acidity. ‘If we are not able to address the acidity of the soils, we may not be able to get the produce that we desire,’ stated the Director. He was accompanied by Julius Okoth, CEO of Avepo Agrovet Limited, and Dr. Romana Mbinya, Head of Agroeconomics and Agribusiness at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology.

Mr. Okoth emphasized that the Siaya County Government, led by Governor James Orengo, is dedicated to assisting farmers in achieving better yields, as part of its mission to make the County self-sufficient in food. ‘As a County, we are stable in food security. The interventions implemented by this government have been effective,’ he noted, while expressing concerns about safely storing the excess produce.

The Director highlighted that the county loses between 30 to 40 percent of its harvest due to poor handling. Addressing the occasion, Julius Okoth, Director of AVEPO Smart Farm, praised the role of modern technology in enhancing sustainable food production. He stressed the importance of using modern systems for seedlings to prevent disease transfer to farms and highlighted AVEPO Smart Farm’s efforts in promoting technological advancements to improve agricultural efficiency and output.

Dr. Romana Mbinya from JOOUST reiterated the University’s commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to improve food security in Siaya County. She emphasized that strategic partnerships aimed at fostering agribusiness development would ensure long-term sustainability and economic growth in the community. Dr. Mbinya also commended the local youth for their growing interest in agriculture, noting a shift in perception as young people now embrace agribusiness opportunities.

Local farmers, led by Cecilia Nyateko Odera, expressed gratitude for the knowledge gained and noted that the modern farming techniques learned at AVEPO Smart Farm have enabled them to become self-reliant.