The Kitui County government has introduced a new initiative to make mechanized farming more accessible to local farmers. Agriculture and Livestock County Executive Committee (CEC) member Stephen Kimwele announced on Thursday that the county will deploy 40 tractors across the 40 wards ahead of the upcoming October-December short rains.
This initiative is part of the county’s broader efforts to support mechanized agriculture, which is seen as a more efficient method of farming that yields better returns. The county tractors will be available to farmers at a subsidized fee of KSh 1,000 per acre of land ploughed. However, farmers will also be responsible for fueling the tractors, bringing the total cost to approximately KSh 2,500 per acre. This is significantly lower than the market rate of KSh 4,500 per acre, offering considerable savings to farmers.
Kimwele highlighted the importance of mechanized agriculture in improving farm yields and reducing the cost of production for farmers. “We are emphasizing mechanized agriculture because it is more efficient and gives good returns in terms of farm yield. Farmers will pay much less to plough an acre since the market rate is KSh 4,500,” Kimwele stated.
The decision to make tractors available well before the onset of the short rains is a proactive measure to address the challenges that have plagued farmers in the past. Kimwele noted that delays in providing farm machinery have previously resulted in poor yields. By releasing the tractors early, the county government aims to ensure that farmers are well-prepared for the planting season.
In addition to making tractors available at subsidized rates, Kimwele clarified the county’s stance on the distribution of free seeds. Unlike previous planting seasons, the county government will not be distributing free seeds ahead of the October-December rains. This decision, according to Kimwele, is informed by the good yields from the past two rain seasons, which have left farmers with sufficient seeds for planting.
“In the last two rain seasons, we distributed drought-tolerant seeds worth KSh 40 million to farmers, and since it led to good yields, this time around, we expect farmers to use part of their harvest as seeds to plant in the coming rains,” Kimwele explained. He urged farmers to practice seed bulking to ensure they have enough seeds for future planting seasons.
The CEC emphasized the need for farmers to move away from the mentality of relying on free seeds from the county government every planting season. He noted that the county would only step in to provide seeds in times of drought or when there is a need for new seed varieties to boost production. “Farmers should know that the county government will be coming in only in times of drought and serious need. When there is a new seed variety to boost production, we can come in,” he said.
Kimwele’s announcement has been well-received by many farmers who see this initiative as a step in the right direction towards improving food security in Kitui County. With the first batch of 15 tractors set to be released to the wards next week, farmers are expected to begin ploughing and preparing their farms early in anticipation of the rains.
As Kitui County continues to roll out such initiatives, it is clear that the local government is committed to supporting farmers in their efforts to increase food production and enhance agricultural efficiency. The subsidized tractor program is a testament to this commitment, offering farmers the tools they need to succeed in a challenging agricultural environment.
