County to ensure multi-stakeholder approach in pyrethrum transformation program implementation

Written by Mercy Kihugu

Nakuru County Government under the leadership of H.E Governor Susan Kihika will have a budgetary allocation of 27 million shillings in the next financial year towards the pyrethrum transformation program in the County.

This was revealed during the Department of Agriculture meeting with stakeholders in the pyrethrum value chain dubbed the “Pyrethrum Caucus meeting” at the Agricultural Training Center (ATC) in Soilo.

The meeting brought together various stakeholders in the pyrethrum sector to discuss areas of collaboration to achieve the Governor’s agenda on the provision of quality planting materials, market access, value addition, and good agronomic practices among others.

Speaking during the meeting Agriculture CECM, Mr Leonard Bor said the administration of H.E Susan Kihika will strengthen the sector by improving the value chain through addressing challenges faced by farmers and sustainably uplifting the pyrethrum farming in the county.

“As a County, we are looking forward to continuing working together, especially the researchers on new technologies within the pyrethrum value chain. This is especially on clonal material and innovations on post-harvest handling of the flowers and value addition,” the CECM said.

Mr Bor further highlighted that the collaborative efforts will be significant in the journey of increasing pyrethrum acreage to 30,000 in the county.

The County currently has slightly over 10,000 pyrethrum farmers who produced 520 metric tons of pyrethrum in the year 2022.

Other pyrethrum-producing counties like Elgeyo Marakwet and Nyandarua sent representatives to the caucus for benchmarking purposes.

The CECM was accompanied by Agriculture Chief Officer Kibet Kurgat and Nakuru County Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Hon. Isabella Makori.