Siaya: The Siaya County government, through the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Program (NAVCDP), has initiated a comprehensive training program for farmers in North Sakwa focused on good agronomic practices to bolster food security in the area.
According to Kenya News Agency, during a farmer’s field school event for the Ralingo farmer group in Majiwa village, North Sakwa ward Agricultural extension officer Mr. Jackson Achuti explained that the program’s goal is to educate farmers on critical skills from planting through to harvesting. The initiative targets 80 farmers in each of the four zones-Abom, Ajigo, Barchando, and BarKowino-who will subsequently train at least 5,000 farmers in the ward by year-end.
Achuti elaborated that the training sessions occur twice monthly and focus on capacity building in good agricultural practices for crops like cotton, maize, sunflower, green gram, and okra. Key practices include selecting crop varieties, weed control, maintaining soil health and fertility, crop protection through appropriate chemical use, and post-harvest handling to minimize losses.
Expressing optimism, Achuti noted that the training is expected to enhance farmers’ productivity and regional food security. He highlighted a significant increase in the adoption rate of good agronomic practices, which has risen to 80%, up from 20-30% a decade ago.
The program partners with organizations and companies such as Seed Co., Advanta, CGA, Kenya Seed, Yara, ETG, and Simlaw, which provide quality inputs to boost farmer productivity.
Raphael Ngaiwa, chair of the Ralingo farmers group, remarked that the training has empowered farmers transitioning from subsistence farming to agribusiness, aiming to achieve better yields from smaller land areas. Pamela Achieng Adera, another farmer, stated that the training has imparted crucial skills in crop spacing, fertilizer application, and crop monitoring, which are instrumental in enhancing their farming outcomes and supporting their children’s education.