NGPU February 9, 2024

Nakuru County continues to take proactive measures in the revival of Pyrethrum farming.

Written by Mercy Kihugu and James Munyua

Nakuru County has continued to take proactive measures in the revival of Pyrethrum farming by empowering farmers in the seven pyrethrum-rich zones. This support is necessary for sustainable growth and prosperity in pyrethrum production.

Among the measures the Nakuru County in collaboration with the National Government’s, Agriculture Sector Development Support Programme (ASDSP) has taken, is the provision of Solar Powered Dryers.

Among the groups that have benefitted from these facilities are Rurii Young farmers in Naivasha East Ward, Naivasha Subcounty, and Korabariet Pyrethrum Group in Kiptororo Ward, Kuresoi North.

The dryers have assisted the farmers in drying the flowers conveniently and in a secure manner without lowering the quality, quantity, or income.

Speaking when he inspected one of such dryers at Korabariet, Kiptororo ward, Kuresoi North Sub-County, County Executive Member for Agriculture Leonard Bor noted that drying is one of the major challenges faced by pyrethrum farmers.

Bor added that relying on traditional ways of drying has had many challenges including flower spillage, fermentation, and a drop in pyrethrin content. Nakuru County under the leadership of Governor Susan Kihika is working hard to ensure the pyrethrum value chain is enhanced.

“The introduction of the dryer which can dry 300 kilos per day has had tremendous results for the farmers in this area. The pyrethrin content has raised to 2 percent as compared to 1 percent when the pyrethrum is dried using traditional ways, this means that the farmer is now earning more since the more the pyrethrin content, the higher the price,” Bor said.

This was echoed by Christopher Chebochok a pyrethrum farmer who said the introduction of the solar-powered dryer has helped them a great deal, especially with the area receiving rainfall almost daily.

Chebochok further noted that the revival of the crop has raised the economic fortune of the residents with a Kilo retailing at more than 300 shillings depending on the pyrethrin content.

“When farmers bring the pyrethrum flowers here, they’re spread on the tables, it takes a day or two for the flowers to dry completely even on cold days then they pack them for sale. Since this dryer was introduced the prices have steadily gone up, from 230 shillings to some even selling as high as 330 shillings per kilogram,” said Chebochok.

Currently, the farmers at Korabariet are using their dryer to dry pyrethrum flowers each week where Kentegra collects over 200 kg of dry flowers.

When fully utilized the dryers will be able to dry 300 Kgs of dry flowers per week which will result in 1200 Kgs per month translating to an income of Ksh 456,000 per month and over Ksh 3.6 million annually for the groups.

Through the program, individual farmers and groups have been trained to fabricate small dryers using locally available materials.

For Example, Joyce Koech from Kapchorwa Youth Group has fabricated a dryer with the capacity of drying 100 kgs per week.

In Maella Ward, Naivasha Subcounty a farmer trained under the program provides drying services to other farmers at a cost of ksh 5 per kg of dry flowers.

Through this two male youth have been employed as dryer attendants and paid Ksh 3000 per month hence providing an income not only for the farmer but also for the young men.

The solar dryer is made of ultraviolet-treated polysheets, which let in light, the same ones used in making greenhouses. The raised shelves inside the unit are made of wood and nets.

The structure also has an air conditioning system whose role is to allow air circulation and regulate humidity. The system also ensures that the temperature is regulated to avoid extreme heat from destroying the flower.

The pyrethrum sector in Nakuru and the country received a major boost last year after an American company, Kentegra Biotechnology, embarked on the construction of an ultra-modern processing plant in Naivasha.

Once completed, the factory is expected to process more than 750,000 tonnes by the year 2025.