Makueni Farmers Urged to Attend Makindu Agricultural Show

In Summary

• Makueni farmers encouraged to attend Makindu Agricultural Show to learn new technologies.
• Event promotes climate-smart agriculture, showcasing maize, pigeon peas, and sorghum varieties.
• County Assembly Speaker pledges increased funding for irrigation and dams.
• Show aligns with National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).
• Farmers urged to adopt practices like zai pits and intercropping for resilience.

Makueni County farmers have been urged to attend the ongoing Makindu Agricultural Show to learn innovative farming technologies aimed at enhancing food production and resilience in the arid region.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, speaking at the event on August 1, 2025, highlighted the importance of adopting new varieties of maize, pigeon peas, and sorghum, alongside modern techniques to boost yields and profits. “Farmers can increase production within a short period by using these technologies and certified seeds as advised by our agricultural officers,” Mulili said.

The show, themed “Promoting Climate Smart Agriculture,” features demonstrations of practices like minimum soil disturbance, deep tillage, intercropping, and zai pits, as showcased at Wonder Farm in Makindu by farmer Phoebe Mwangangi.

These methods, promoted through partnerships with the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) and organizations like AICCRA, enhance soil fertility, water retention, and pest control, addressing Makueni’s challenges of low rainfall and degraded soils.

County Assembly Speaker Douglas Mbilu emphasized Makueni’s fertile soils and committed to increasing budgetary allocations for irrigation and dam construction to support farming in the water-scarce region. “We need to ensure farmers have water to make our county food secure,” Mbilu said. The county government has allocated funds for annual exhibitions to promote such innovations.

Farmers like Esther Mutuku, a lead farmer in Maangi-Uvungu village, showcased community seed production of drought-tolerant crops like sorghum and green grams, trained by AICCRA in Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). These efforts have reached 54,300 people across Makueni and two other counties, improving livelihoods through climate-smart solutions.

Challenges remain, including limited access to water and high input costs. Farmers urged the county to provide affordable irrigation solutions and market linkages. The show, supported by the South Eastern Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK), also educates youth on farming as a viable career, with seminars led by ASK Chairperson Lawrence Matolo.

Makueni’s Department of Agriculture, led by CECM Joyce Mutua, is reviving the county’s agricultural show to further promote these technologies, aligning with NAVCDP’s five-year plan to enhance value chains and food security. The event continues through August 3, 2025, offering farmers a platform to network and adopt sustainable practices.