Laikipia County government has launched a program to enhance conservation agriculture and leverage technology for increased food production.
In collaboration with Farm Africa and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, the initiative aims to train over 40,000 farmers in best practices to improve food security. A farmers’ training center will be established, providing access to training on various agricultural technologies.
“Farmers will have access to the latest technologies, including poultry incubators and quality chicks, across different sectors,” said Governor Joshua Irungu.
The program will also focus on conservation agriculture techniques, such as minimal tillage, to boost productivity amid climate change challenges.
“It has been demonstrated that farmers using conservation agriculture achieve significantly better yields than those relying on conventional methods. This approach can help our farmers increase their maize harvest, particularly with certified seeds,” he added.
Farmers will be organized into cooperatives, receiving training and subsidized inputs through the local cereals board. These cooperatives will assist in sourcing markets for their produce, utilizing aggregation centers, and training on proper maize drying techniques to minimize post-harvest losses.
“Our extension officers have been trained and will lead the training for farmers,” the governor noted.
The center will provide timely access to the latest agricultural technologies, previously available only during agricultural shows. Irungu emphasized that embracing technology will facilitate sustainable agriculture and resilience to unpredictable weather patterns.
“We aim to make agriculture more appealing to youth, who often view it as overly manual and discouraging,” he said. “The adoption of these technologies will enhance production across cereal and African vegetable value chains and encourage youth participation in these sectors.”
