Busia: Agricultural stakeholders have urged farmers in Busia County to embrace modern farming technologies, regenerative agriculture, and certified farm inputs to increase crop yields, reduce production costs, and improve food security. Speaking during the Busia Farmers Field Day at Nasira in Matayos Sub County on Tuesday, Yara East Africa agronomist Robinson Wandera said embracing the technology will maximize production.
According to Kenya News Agency, Wandera emphasized the importance of regenerative agriculture and proper fertiliser use to maintain soil fertility. He urged farmers to adopt improved seed varieties and technologies suited to their environment to boost productivity. Wandera noted that many farmers experience low yields due to improper fertiliser application without understanding soil types and recommended rates.
Cereal Growers Association representative Eliya Barasa highlighted that modern technologies and conservation agriculture can decrease production costs while enhancing farm output. Barasa stressed the need for continuous education on farming methods that boost production and reduce costs. He pointed out that post-harvest losses remain a significant challenge, affecting farmers’ returns.
Barasa mentioned that the association has established farmer service centres and post-harvest management training programs across sub-counties to mitigate such losses. He also noted the shortage of tractor rippers in the county as a barrier to conservation agriculture, urging the county government to increase their availability.
Busia County Agro-Dealers Association Secretary Andrew Netia expressed concerns over illegal agro-products from Uganda affecting farmers and legitimate dealers. He called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to eliminate unauthorised product sales and advised farmers to purchase inputs from certified outlets to avoid counterfeit products.
Netia emphasized the need for regulatory bodies to enforce measures against unauthorised products and encouraged farmers to seek inputs from licensed dealers with qualified agronomists. This approach aims to protect agricultural production and ensure the use of approved products.
