Vendors in one of the markets in Kisumu /Photo courtesy/
Kisumu County Government has embarked on an ambitious development program through the Department of Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock, and Fisheries aimed at ensuring the county achieves food and nutrition security.
According to statistics provided to The Nyanza Review, the county’s Agricultural Department, in its effort to revitalize the sector and meet the development pillar of food security and value addition, has so far distributed 560 kg of rice seeds for 280 acres, 350 bags of CAN fertilizer, 350 bags of DAP fertilizer, and 325 bags of UREA fertilizer. Additionally, 1,660 kg of hybrid maize seeds and 2,000 sachets (20 grams each) of assorted vegetable seeds have been distributed.
The department has also purchased and distributed 24 dairy cows, 129 dairy goats, and 93 Galla bucks. Furthermore, 7,969 improved Kienyeji chicks, 1,000 broilers, as well as pasture and fodder seeds, have been distributed to 500 households across the county, with a total of Sh 51 million allocated to groups engaged in local chicken, sorghum, and cassava value chains in Kisumu East, Nyando, and Nyakach sub-counties.
In its efforts to mitigate climate change and promote income diversification, the department has issued 300,000 cassava cuttings, 6,600 improved mango seedlings, and 6,600 avocado seedlings across the county.
In a similar vein, the county government of Kisumu has partnered with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to establish a toll-free Farmers Call Center, enabling farmers to access virtual extension services, advisory services, and marketing information.
The Nyanza Review has also established that Kisumu is among the counties selected to benefit from an ambitious World Bank-funded aquaculture program aimed at boosting the fisheries sector. This has prompted the Kisumu County Government to train 10 fisheries extension officers across the seven sub-counties in Aquaculture Farmers Field School Methodology.
The statistics further reveal that the county government of Kisumu has commissioned the first batch of agricultural items and seedlings to kick-start the economic recovery program. These items, valued at Sh 13 million, include rice seeds, fruit tree seedlings, vegetable seeds, cereal seeds, irrigation equipment, and one-day-old chicks. The items will benefit over 10,000 smallholder farmers.
Additionally, it has emerged that through the COVID-19 Fund Management Committee, the Department of Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock Development, and Fisheries received Sh 8.4 million to address food security and nutrition in the COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 recovery efforts.
Through the State Department of Crops Development and Agricultural Research, the Kisumu County Government, on behalf of the relevant department, received 20.8 metric tons of certified rice seeds valued at Sh 4.8 million, aimed at planting 2,600 acres of rice.
