Agriculture and Irrigation Chief Officer Sammy Sichangi has challenged Agro- Chemical Stockists and dealers in Trans Nzoia to be proactive in the fight against counterfeit agricultural products in the county.
Speaking during a one-day Agro dealer’s workshop in Kitale organised by the Agro chemicals Assocation of Kenya (AAK) in collaboration with county government department of Agriculture the Chief Officer Agriculture warned against Counterfeits products in the markets which he said had posed adverse effects on the farmers of this Country.
He noted that it wasn’t a surprise that farmers in the leading Maize producing county remain in search of ways to combat the pests and diseases that threaten crop yields every season.
“It is a bit disturbing to note that the majority of farmers in Trans Nzoia receive key knowledge on how to manage pests and disease not only from extension personnel, but often from agricultural supply dealers, or agro-dealers. While agro-dealers do carry valuable information, resources and inputs”, Said the Chief Officer who also lauded AAK for its better farming, better food and better health Clarion call.
Further noting that many Agro-dealers still face limited formal knowledge on vegetable production or protective measures for applying chemical pesticides, the Chief Officer said that the County administration was committed to have them get capacity building.
He lauded Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya for the earlier initiative that saw a partnership with agro- dealers address these gaps through training of farmers in all the 5 Sub Counties before rolling out the one Month Free Certified Maize Seeds to Small Scale farmers.
The Trainings covered areas as Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and safe handling and use of agricultural inputs, including pesticides.
Mr. Sichangi said the training to the Agro dealers was a move in the right direction with expected results that will “help farmers in assessing input quality and crop hygiene and getting information on how to apply pesticides with minimal body exposure.
“Knowing that farmers receive their pest and disease management knowledge from agro-dealers provides us important insight into how to best reach farmers with up-to-date information,” said Mr. Sichangi.
County Crop Director Kennedy Kagai said “If we want farmers to adopt sustainable, climate-smart and productive inputs that might be outside of their typical use, an important pathway to reaching them is through the people that farmers already trust and are familiar with.”
He said participants not only had no prior knowledge on how to dispose of expired pesticides but did not sell bio-pesticides or chemical pesticide alternatives at their shops.
The Government, moreso the department of Agriculture he said is aware of so many farmers were experiencing challenges in crop protection and called for and collective action to end crop threats in an effective way .
He also called for a critical adoption of sustainable, effective farming solutions.
Mr Kagai said the department was indebted to Governor Natembeya for the resilient support he had given to farmers by providing trainings on the correct use of biopesticides as a solution for mitigating pests and diseases on Maize, other Cereals and vegetable crops to ensure better productivity.
