The County Government of Kitui is working on overdrive to entrench agriculture as key economic enterprise and a key driver of transformations in the county populace. According to the county chief officer for agriculture and fisheries, Gladys Kivoto, Governor Julius Malombe's administration was shifting emphasis from subsistence agriculture to strategically positioning it as a key economic enterprise pegged on agri-business.
Kitui County Chief Officer for Agriculture and Fisheries, Gladys Kivoto, speaking during the grain expo at the South Eastern Kenya university on Friday.|MWINGI TIMES
"Under Governor Dr. Julius Malombe's leadership, agriculture is being treated as a value chain and a commercial engine focused on resilience, productivity and regional collaboration with other players,"said Kivoto. The chief officer spoke on Friday when she represented the CEC for agriculture Stephen Kimwele as the chief guest during the Eastern Africa Grain Council, Lower Eastern Region Agribusiness Expo, held at the South Eastern Kenya University in Kitui county. The Expo attracted over 1,000 farmers from Kitui, Makueni, and Machakos counties with more than 30 exhibitors showcasing innovative, climate-smart solutions aimed at transforming the grain sector.
The event served as a platform for knowledge exchange, innovation showcasing and forging partnerships aimed at future-proofing agriculture in the face of climate change and development pressure.
Kivoto reaffirmed Kitui County’s commitment to accomplishing an inclusive, climate-resilient, and market-oriented agricultural transformation agenda in partnership with regional and national actors.
To that end, Kivoto said in collaboration withstakeholders, Malombe's administration was setting up the county aggregation and industrial park.
She said the humongous facility would provide cold storage facilities, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance value addition while protecting farmers from exploitation by middle men and brokers.
Kivoto added that not only were farmers exposed affordable irrigation technologies such as drip kits and solar-powered pumps but numerous dams were being done or rehabilitated to assure access to water.
The chief officer added that the youth were encouraged to engage in agribusiness ventures.
Kivoto further pointed out that veterinary services had been enhanced through mobile units, vaccination drives, and improved livestock breeding programs.
The EAGC Executive Director, Mr. Gerald Masila, applauded the county government for embracing innovation in agribusiness. He emphasized the need for market links in support of smallholder farmers.
A land use planning specialist, Roseline Musyoka, urged counties to adopt comprehensive land use plans that strike a balance between residential development, agriculture, agroforestry, and other economic activities.
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