Homa bay: Farmers in Homa Bay county have been urged to form cooperatives and invest in acquisition of machinery for value addition of their produce. County Commissioner Ronald Mwiwawi emphasized that value addition would enable farmers to maximize returns on their produce.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mwiwawi highlighted that Kochia division produces high-quality pineapples, which could be processed and packaged as fruit juice to benefit the farmers. He also noted that Rachuonyo East Sub-county produces high-quality sweet potatoes, which could be processed to achieve maximum returns. The remarks were made during the launch of a milk cooler donated by the National government to the Kochia farmers cooperative society.
Mwiwawi encouraged farmers to adopt modern farming methods and keep pedigree livestock to produce sufficient milk quantities and fully utilize the milk cooler. He also expressed concerns about rising suicide cases in the area, urging residents to seek counseling when facing challenges. Additionally, Mwiwawi raised concerns over drug abuse among the youth, particularly the alarming levels of bhang use, and called for a collective effort to combat drug abuse and illicit brew production.
The administrator further advised the youth to adopt a culture of savings and investments to improve their lives. He highlighted that the county is rich in minerals such as gold, which residents could exploit for their benefit, provided they avoid conflicts. Mwiwawi assured that the government had enhanced security by conducting constant patrols both by vehicles and on foot.
Kochia Farmers Cooperative Society Chairman, Bishop William Abuka, thanked the government for the donation and announced plans to install CCTV cameras in the cooling plant to enhance security. He assured that residents fully support the President’s efforts to develop all parts of the country. The event was also attended by County Government Chief Officer for Livestock, Bernard Omwanda, who encouraged farmers to vaccinate their animals and use Artificial Insemination to improve their breeds.
