The county government of Kitu in Kenya has embarked on encouraging and supporting a shift to drought-resistant and high-value crops such as pulses.
The County has invested heavily in supporting small scale agricultural programs at Mianda Irrigation Scheme in Kitui South. Many farmers in Kitui practice small scale farming to make a living, but the productivity has remained very low subjecting them to abject poverty despite putting long hours and effort in their farms.
The farmers have been supported through the provision of seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, and tractors ploughing farms, solar generators and county agricultural extension officers supporting the farmers. Famers receive among other inputs, seeds and pesticides to grow high-value crops like vegetables that mature faster for both domestic and commercial purposes.
Mechanize farming
Suleiman Kalundu from drought-stricken Voo village in Kitui East has found greener pastures in watermelon farming, which earns him over a million shillings annually. Speaking at his farm, Kalundu says he has made a fortune since he ventured into the agribusiness five years ago thanks to the growing demand and ready market for watermelons.
Before then he had ventured into small-scale maize and tomato farming on his seven-acre piece of land which proved nonviable due to erratic rainfall patterns commonest in the remote part of Kitui County.
The Makueni County Government in the past acquired 40 tractors and deployed them across the County as part of efforts to mechanize farming. The County has further seen strengthened and well-equipped support system through agricultural extension officers who have been given 26 new motorcycles for easy movement.
