FARMERS URGED TO EMBRACE CLIMATE-SMART TECHNOLOGY AS KAKAMEGA HOSTS FIELD DAY

The County Government of Kakamega through the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), convened a Farmers’ Field Day at Atemitech Ventures Farm in Lurambi Sub-county, showcasing modern agricultural technologies designed to bolster food security and drive household income growth.

The event drew farmers, youth agripreneurs and agricultural stakeholders featuring practical demonstrations on innovative farming techniques aimed at increasing productivity, strengthening climate resilience and commercializing agribusiness.

The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives Mr. Mophat Mandela graced the event and called on farmers to prioritize peer-to-peer learning, emphasizing that the cross-pollination of knowledge and best practices is critical to accelerating the county’s wealth creation agenda.

Mr. Mandela urged households to preserve sufficient food stocks for domestic consumption while simultaneously adopting climate-smart agricultural practices to safeguard against potential shortages.

The host farmer, Ms. Leah Atemi on her part shared her transformation journey calling on more young people to view farming as a viable business rather than a subsistence activity.

“The programme has not only allowed me to expand my enterprise but has also given me a platform to mentor fellow youth and farmers on modern technologies,” she said.

Farmers at the event received hands-on training in a range of cutting-edge practices, including Azolla farming for livestock feed, Black Soldier Fly (BSF) farming for protein production, milk and yoghurt value addition and modern irrigation techniques. The sessions were geared towards equipping attendees with tools to improve productivity while building resilience against climate shocks.

Also present at the field day were the Chief Officer for Cooperatives Development Mr. Anslem Mulinya, Practical Action RAY Program Coordinator Ms. Monica Rapando, alongside a host of senior officials from the Department of Agriculture who reaffirmed the county’s commitment to transforming the agricultural sector under Governor Fernandes Barasa’s wealth creation pillar.