DP urges farmers to embrace state projects

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said the Kenya Kwanza administration will invest in agriculture and trade to uplift the poor.

Gachagua asked farmers to take advantage of government programmes aimed at increasing agricultural productivity.

President William Ruto said the government will support farmers by providing adequate and affordable working capital, comprehensively managing agricultural related risks to cushion farmers from uncertainty and revamping underperforming cash crops.

In his speech read by Gachagua, President Ruto also said the government has lowered the price of fertilizer to increase food production, a move aimed at reducing food prices.

President Ruto said the government has availed 1.4 million bags of subsidized fertilizer to farmers during the current short rains seasons. 

He said, “The net effect of these interventions is an overall increase in the agricultural output in the critical sub sectors like maize tea coffee rice wheat and horticultural crops among others.”

Gachagua spoke during the Nairobi Agricultural Society of Kenya International Trade Fair held at Jamhuri Park Showground in the company of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.

At the same time, the Deputy President said the government will work with farmers to increase the country’s forest cover in forest reserves.

Gachagua dismissed claims that the government will allow farmers to farm in the forest.  He said, “We will mobilise farmers near the gazetted reserves to partner with us to start a very serious program of afforestation to be able to enhance our water catchment area and deal with the effects of climate change.”