Out goes coffee and tea, in comes soybeans in Kiambu
Governor William Kabogo talks on the new path he is charting in Kiambu County that was once a hub of tea and coffee, among other cash crops, but all these have now been replaced by real estate, with dairy remaining the only money-maker for tens of farmers. PHOTO | ERIC WAINAINA
What you need to know:
- Through the Department of Lands, Physical Planning and Housing, we have zoned and mapped all agricultural and commercial land. We are, thus, discouraging the sale of the former. We hope this will work.
- Soybean and sunflower, particularly, in the lower zones because they are drought-tolerant and high-yielding. Then there is also stevia for the highlands since it’s a high value crop with a ready market and farmers have already been linked to the export market.
It’s over two years since you took office. Have farmers so far witnessed changes in the sector?
Definitely and more is still to come. An average of 2,000 farmers have benefited from greenhouses from the county government, which recorded an income of up to Sh3.5 million in the first season of March to August. We have also covered 90 per cent of livestock farmers in terms of pests and disease control.
What measures have you put in place to safeguard farming land as real estate development grows?
Through the Department of Lands, Physical Planning and Housing, we have zoned and mapped all agricultural and commercial land. We are, thus, discouraging the sale of the former. We hope this will work.
Farming in Kiambu remains a business for the elderly as the youth look for odd jobs in Nairobi. Will you reverse this trend?
It cannot happen in a month, but we are doing our best. Currently, we are promoting youth-friendly ventures like use of greenhouses and keeping of rabbits and poultry.
Some of the greenhouses have been stationed at polytechnics to encourage the youth to learn skills that will help their agribusinesses flourish. We are also working with various stakeholders to promote agribusiness through our affordable credit facility called County Biashara Fund.
Other than coffee, tea and horticulture, what other crops can farmers embrace?
Soybean and sunflower, particularly, in the lower zones because they are drought-tolerant and high-yielding. Then there is also stevia for the highlands since it’s a high value crop with a ready market and farmers have already been linked to the export market.
The problem of middlemen exploiting farmers, how are you handling it?
A good number of our farmers are joining cooperatives, with the dairy sector among the best organised. They are processing and marketing their produce and they are reaping big rewards.
We have also been training farmers on how to survey the market so that they can grow what they can sell when the market is not flooded
What is your government doing to have produce in the region added value?
We have been equipping farmers with skills and knowledge through training and support from various agro-processors. We are adding value to soybeans, rabbit meat and milk.
With coffee prices in the world market dwindling, should a farmer in Kiambu continue growing the crop?
I just came back from the US where I negotiated with the Norristown Municipality to have farmers in the county sell their produce directly to the market.
The major challenges in the coffee sector are high cost of production and poor marketing, which have been unfavourable to farmers resulting into low profits.
We are currently providing subsidised fertiliser, advising farmers on better agronomic practices and high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties such as Ruiru 11 and Batian and strengthening the management of coffee cooperative societies. Things will change for the better.
