Machakos farmers get free ploughing services

Machakos County Government, through the Department of Agriculture, has released 38 tractors to till land for select farmers in the county.

The allocations have been solely based on need with the farmers selected to benefit from the initiative not being able to till their land.

Speaking when he flagged off the tractors, Machakos County Chief Officer for Agriculture Nimrod Mbai pointed out at the delay in initiating the project to delay in the release of funds by the national government.

Mbai said that the programme is out to help the elderly and those who cannot afford to till their farms.

He added that each tractor will plough 8 acres per person with about 1,000 farmers expected to benefit from the initiative.

“Each tractor has two operators who will work in shifts so that they can cover more farms across the county,” he said

The chief officer also said that they have already purchased seeds worth Sh10 million from Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) and will be supplied to farmers starting Wednesday October 21, 2015.

Mbai further said the move is expected to boost farmers’ efforts in increasing food production in the forthcoming season.

The county agricultural mechanisation programme launched last year by Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua had effectively seen an increase in land under cultivation from the initial 20 per cent to the current 60 per cent.

Machakos County is one of the counties that had been struck by hunger and confusion which saw children going hungry and mothers queued for relief food.

The agricultural chief officer also promised residents that the county government is set increase the number of tractors to 120 in the subsequent financial years.

Mbai also noted that two farmers will get free seeds and subsidised fertilizer to support their planting.

“We are employing 40 Extension Officers and 40 Animal Health Assistants to train farmers on modern farming techniques and desirable crops to plant,” he said.

Machakos residents, especially the youth, will be given free chicks and trained on how to rare them.

The governor Dr Alfred Mutua in his earlier speech indicated that his government will purchase the mature chicken and eggs and market them in Kenya and the East African region, India and China.

“Youth do not have to sit at bus stations chewing miraa (khat). They can now rare chicken and my government will buy them to help support the venture and earn them a living,” he said.

Machakos County is set to end the cycle of hunger and food relief in the region to alleviate poverty and create wealth.