The Siaya County Government has launched a comprehensive long rains campaign to enhance community preparedness, optimize idle arable land utilization, and generate employment opportunities for youth.
During the two-day annual Agri-Expo, tens of extension motorbikes, cars, tractors, seeds, fertilizers, and 100 extension officers were inaugurated to equip the county for the impending long rains.
Governor James Orengo in charge of Siaya County affirmed the government’s commitment to providing farmers with subsidized fertilizers, tractor-hire services, and certified seeds. This initiative aims to fortify food security and augment agriculture’s contribution to the County’s GDP growth, aligning with the objectives outlined in the County Government’s ‘Nyalore’ Manifesto and Vision 2030.
Presently, a significant portion of arable land in Siaya County remains underutilized, resulting in low productivity of staple crops. Factors such as poor soil health, rain dependency, limited technology adoption, and inadequate extension services contribute to this issue.
With the recent heavy rains alert issued by the Meteorological department, areas like Siaya are expected to experience increased rainfall. Consequently, the County Government is prioritizing the revitalization of Cotton ginning in West Uyoma Ward to bolster farmers’ incomes.
H.E. the Rt Hon. Raila Odinga commended the County’s proactive measures in empowering youth through the Long Rains initiative, emphasizing its potential to enhance food security through collaboration and innovation.
Elizabeth Adongo, Chief Officer of Agriculture, Food Security, Livestock, and Fisheries in Siaya county, assured farmers of subsidized tractor hire services and distribution of hybrid seeds. These efforts aim to facilitate timely and affordable plowing, alongside promoting hybrid seed adoption.
The 2024 Long Rain Season Campaign serves as a platform to intensify collaboration with County youth and stakeholders to bolster agricultural productivity, income generation, and livelihoods through enhanced extension services.
In response to Kenya’s significant youth unemployment challenge, particularly in rural areas like Siaya County, the initiative seeks to engage various stakeholders, including farmers, agricultural input companies, credit institutions, extension workers, and agribusiness entrepreneurs, to address this issue.
