Over 3,900 Farmers in Nakuru Set to Receive Sunflower Seeds

Written by Mercy Kihugu

Over 3,900 farmers in Nakuru are set to benefit from the 15,000 kilograms of sunflower seeds under the sunflower promotion program. The program is part of the presidential agenda for the promotion of agriculture in the country.

The first batch of the seeds is set to cover an acreage of 5,000 acres across the county

The program of distributing sunflower seeds across the county promotes sunflower farming as an emerging commercial and rotational crop to empower farmers economically upon the harvest.

This was revealed by the County Deputy Governor Hon. David Kones during the launch of the program in Kampi ya Moto, Rongai Sub-county where he noted that the farmers have been organized into 27 clusters where each cluster will receive an oil pressing machine.

The oil pressing machine will help to extract oil for consumption and earn the farmers and the group’s income.

Kones notes that the county will use the county extension officers to train the sunflower farmers on proper agronomic practices to improve production.

He added the administration will continue to offer the necessary support to promote the sunflower value chain to be an income earner for the farmers.

Rongai Sub-county received 4,100 kgs,1367 Kgs (Subukia), 2250 Kgs (Naivasha), 1,400 Kgs (Gilgil), 1,150 Kgs (Njoro), 2000 Kgs (Kuresoi North), 750 Kgs (Bahati), 750 Kgs (Kuresoi South) and 1,250 Kgs (Molo).

Farmers will pick the seeds from various satellite stores in the county.

After harvest, the seed is pressed for oil production thus it will help reduce foreign exchange expenditure on imports of edible oil in the country.

Additionally, the by-products are a good ingredient for livestock feed formulation with high protein content.

The crop will also help in enhancing the soil structure, and fertility and breaking disease cycles for the major food crops this way a potential crop for Nakuru County for rotation with maize and potatoes.

He was joined by Agriculture CECM Leonard Bor, Chief Officers in charge of Livestock Fisheries and Veterinary Services Dr Michael Cheruiyot, Cooperatives Kibet Kurgat, MCAs Hon. Hellen Chemutai (Visoi Ward), Hon Alex Langat (Mosop Ward), Hon. Nickson Morogo (Solai Ward), Hon.Degeulle Naburuki (Soin Ward), Hon. Isaac Rottok (Menengai West Ward)