A tomato farmer tends to a green house. Migori County has partnered with Ripple effect to improve farm yields. PHOTO:IAN BYRON
Farmers in Migori County are set to benefit from improved agricultural yields aimed at addressing food security that they have been grappling with over the past years.
This was after Migori County government brokered a partnership with Ripple effect, a Non-governmental organization to boost productivity amongst farmers in the county.
The innovation involves infusion of new technology to derive improved crop and animal yields.
County Agriculture Executive Committee Member (CECM) Mr Lucas Musenda noted that the venture will boost food security alongside creating employment to thousands of county residents.
“We are gathered here for an innovation exhibition with the theme that addresses matters climate Smart Agricultural production. This is important for farmers in the region as well as other stakeholders who seek to boost food production.
Lucas Musenda
Migori County Agriculture CECM Lucas Musenda during a press briefing. PHOTO:IAN BYRON
The official termed the innovation as “key focus area for the county government towards aligning the agricultural production systems and technologies in mitigating the day to day effects of climate change.”
The field exhibition held at Kambogo Chief’s Camp in West Kanyamkago Ward, Uriri Sub County was aimed at sensitizing farmers on how best they can improve their agricultural produce.
According to Mr Musenda, most farmers had run short of farming areas and the only way to increase productivity was to initiate “smart culture.”
“The large swathes of land we used to have shrunk due to population pressure hence the necessity to increase productivity per unit area and that’s why there is a range of innovations exhibited here,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Mrs Beatrice Were, an administrator at Ripple Effect Kenya who underscored the need of more farmers to join the initiative and tap into the resources issued by different stake folders.
“We have so far reached out to 15,000 farmers from low income areas of Suna East and Uriri Sub Counties. Our aim is not only sensitization but we also provide improved yields to enable them afford safe nutritious food.”
Beatrice Were
The organization uses Climate Smart technology which ensures improved yields from a little piece of land.
A farmer harvests some of her Kales: PHOTO: IAN BYRON
Some of the Value chains promoted by Ripple effect include large Scale growth of Tissue culture bananas, African leafy vegetables and Kales, grain amaranth as well as poultry and livestock breeding.
Residents led West Kanyamkago Sub Location assistant chief Mr Charles Onindo lauded the partnership by the sector players as a “milestone aimed at boosting food production in the area.
“Ripple Effect has come in handy in sensitizing the locals on new farming techniques, a move that has seen the area metamorphose from the initial farming practices to modern techniques. We now boast of npot only improved crop varieties but also poultry and other exotic animals.”
Charles Onindo
Majority of the beneficiaries include widows, women groups and individuals with a penchant for farming.
Meza Mwanza 
KTMN Reporter