Youth in Nakuru now have better chances to reap from agriculture after the county acquired farm equipment valued at Sh 25 Million for distribution to small scale farmer groups. This has been done in the first phase of a project dubbed Agriculture Mechanization Services (AMS).
The acquisition is aimed at giving
younger farmers opportunities to embrace mechanized food
production to increase yields.
Commenting on this move, County executive committee
member for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Dr Immaculate Maina was
optimistic that by reducing over reliance on uneconomical human labour, farmers
especially the youth will enjoy increased yields.
While the county is aiming to set up 5
mechanisation hubs, it has already distributed equipment to Inua Hustler group
in Gilgil Sub County and supported other farmer groups with mechanization
services amounting to Sh 20 million. The county has further spent Sh 13.7
million to procure a forage harvester, a baler, a rotary mower, a
rake, a Gyro mower, a tipping trailer, a chisel plough, and a tractor.
In recent times, technological advancement is enabling
the manufacturing of light and cheaper machines that can help small
holder farmers revolutionize agriculture both in terms of
quantity and quality of products grown and processed.
The AMS project which will be implemented in
partnership with JOSAM Africa will dispel the notion that mechanization is
only for those in large-scale farming.
Although mechanisation is encouraged, Dr Maina
noted that soil erosion and poor seed beds are common challenges witnessed in
the county due to lack of skills in machine operation. She said small
holder farmers will also be equipped with technical know how to
operate and maintain the machinery through field days,
workshops, farm visits and seminars to enable them to become
commercially successful.
Adoption of mechanized farming has contributed
to timely preparation of land, efficient land use and increased production. It
also reduced the cost of production and created more employment opportunities
particularly among the youth.
Across the country, failure to mechanise farming has
been largely due to failure to put in place an effective political and economic
environment. There has also been a fragmented, and uncoordinated approach adopted
by stakeholders and donors in taking measures to encourage mechanization.
To ensure the success of this project, Nakuru
County is in in talks with various lenders with a view of coming up with
affordable financing opportunities for small scale farmers wishing to
acquire machinery. The county is also working with dealers and
manufacturers of farm machinery to ensure that their products
targeting small scale farmers were built with critical parameters in
mind including simple design, reliability, fuel efficiency and minimal
maintenance requirements.
Asset financing will also be tailor made to
suit the abilities of both small holders and large-scale farmers.
In addition, the County is working on a
mechanization policy that will guide training of farm equipment operators
by various stakeholders in partnership with manufacturers and their appointed
dealers.
