Embrace technology, farmers told
President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto tour 600 hectares sorghum plantation at AusQuest farm in Athi River, Machakos County. Farmers have been urged to embrace modern technologies to increase crop production. PHOTO/PSCU
What you need to know:
- President Kenyatta said this would boost the country’s fight against food insecurity and encourage agribusiness.
- Mr Koskei said his ministry will promote the adoption of new farming methods by creating awareness on its benefits to farmers, especially in the lower Eastern region which is largely covered by black cotton soil.
Farmers have been urged to embrace modern technologies to increase crop production.
Speaking when he toured AusQuest farm in Athi River, Machakos County, President Kenyatta particularly appealed to small land holders not to resist adopting new farming methods and technology - strategies that would maximise their production potential.
This, he said, would boost the country’s fight against food insecurity and encourage agribusiness.
He was accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto, Agriculture cabinet secretary Felix Koskei and his Environment counterpart, Prof Judi Wakhungu, in touring the farm that uses black cotton soil and little amounts of water to grow sorghum on 600 hectares as well as barley on 25 hectares.
Mr Koskei said his ministry will promote the adoption of new farming methods by creating awareness on its benefits to farmers, especially in the lower Eastern region which is largely covered by black cotton soil.
“It is a good thing that this technology has come to Kenya. It will turn around the entire lower Eastern into a major crop production area,” Mr Koskei said.
Prof Wakhungu said black cotton soil has the advantage of absorbing a lot of water and retaining it. She noted that adoption of the new farming method will make good use of the black cotton soil, which many people have for long regarded useless.
