Pyrethrum board in efforts to woo farmers back to growing the crop

The Pyrethrum Board of Kenya (PBK) on Thursday launched a massive campaign to woo farmers into re-introducing the crop, promising to pay Sh14 million by November 30 and the remaining Sh54 million by year-end.

Speaking at Rachiri area in Nyandarua North District, PBK chairman Solomon Boit said the monies were arrears owed between December last year to date.

Mr Boit who was accompanied by PBK managing director Dr Isaac Mulagoli, said the 150 employees retrenched two months ago would have their terminal dues paid soon, as the parastatal had been able to get funds from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The chairman said PBK is saving Sh18 million monthly after 150 employees were retrenched, adding that the monies saved would be used to retrain the remaining 150 employees, and improve some research stations.

Prompt payments

Saying farmers ought to re-introduce pyrethrum growing in the Central-Eastern region, Mr Boit added that prompt payments would be given adequate attention to ensure they had a reason to engage in growing the crops.

Farmers complained that delayed payments had made it difficult for them to meet their daily needs, adding that bonus payments should be re-introduced to enable them pay for labour and meet other domestic needs.

Mr Boit said bonus payments had been halted as PBK was unable to get adequate supplies to meet demand.

Currently, 110 tonnes are produced country wide against a world demand of 1.9 million tonnes and acreage has reduced drastically as farmers ventured into other crops.

Mr Boit launched payments of Sh530,000 to farmers, adding that in future, all payments would be done at collection centres to ensure farmers do not have to travel to Nakuru to collect them.

The PBK chairman and his team toured West Pokot, Kisii, Naivasha, Nyahururu Mau Narok and Nyandarua.

Nyandarua is the second highest producer after Nakuru.

Mr Boit said that Sh12 million from an overseas donor had been received for use in reviving the sub-sector.