Thousands of farm machines to be imported soon

A tractor at the Hola irrigation scheme. Talks with four industrialised countries have started to help mechanise agriculture in Kenya in the next two years. PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • Speaking in Kikuyu on Wednesday at the Kenya National Farmers Federation annual general meeting, Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei  listed the equipment the government wants to import. 
  • In an arrangement with India, farming equipment worth USD 100 million will be imported. From Korea, the country will get 11,000 assorted farming equipment. 

Talks with four industrialised countries have started to help mechanise agriculture in Kenya in the next two years.

Speaking in Kikuyu on Wednesday at the Kenya National Farmers Federation annual general meeting, Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei  listed the equipment the government wants to import. 

The government has entered into an agreement with Brazil and some 1, 520 assorted farming equipment will be shipped and sold to farmers and their associations. 

In an arrangement with India, farming equipment worth USD 100 million will be imported. From Korea, the country will get 11,000 assorted farming equipment. 

Discussions are still ongoing with the government of Holland, where more equipment is to be sourced from, said Mr Koskei. “Kenya must follow the best practices of other countries where farming is raking in billions in revenue to improve the living standards,” he said. 

The ministry is also developing  livestock and crop insurance schemes.

The livestock scheme is being piloted in Turkana, while the crop one is still in its initial stages of development, he said. 

He also addressed problems raised by some of the 400 farmers present, that included packing of farm produce in sacks exceeding 50kg weight in spite of the Crop Act banning the practice.