Vihiga Farmers Advised to Embrace Smart Agriculture

Key Highlights

• Vihiga farmers urged to adopt smart agriculture to boost yields.
• Agriculture Director Reuben Chumba calls for soil testing, crop rotation, and intercropping.
• Farmers encouraged to grow traditional crops and indigenous vegetables for food security and market access.
• Certified seeds and proper fertilizer use recommended to maximize small farm productivity.
• Cooperative societies proposed to help farmers access urban markets like Nairobi, Kisumu, and Eldoret.

Farmers in Vihiga County have been urged to embrace modern and climate-smart agricultural practices to improve food production and strengthen household incomes.

County Director of Agriculture, Reuben Chumba, said that despite most farms in the county being small, they hold potential for high yields if managed properly. He noted that adopting sound farming techniques could help farmers maximize their land.

Chumba called on residents to take advantage of the ongoing rains by preparing their farms early, planting certified seeds, and applying both organic and inorganic fertilizers.

He further encouraged intercropping maize with beans to improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, and crop rotation to control weeds and pests.

“Most of you have never taken your soil for testing; you just use fertilizer without knowing what your soil lacks,” Chumba said, urging farmers to get soil pH tests and seek guidance on the right inputs.

He also encouraged the revival of traditional crops such as cassava, sweet potatoes, finger millet, and sorghum, which he said play a vital role in ensuring food security.

In addition, Chumba urged farmers to diversify into indigenous vegetables and form cooperative societies to collectively market their produce in urban centers such as Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret. He noted that such strategies would not only boost food production but also empower farmers economically.