Nairobi: Bungoma County Governor Kenneth Lusaka has urged local residents to adopt mixed farming as a strategy to enhance food security and promote economic growth in the region. Speaking at the official opening of the Daraja Mungu Coffee Pulping Factory in Kibingei Kimilili Sub-County, the governor highlighted the importance of combining short- and long-term agricultural activities to diversify income sources and increase production.
According to Kenya News Agency, Governor Lusaka encouraged small-scale farmers to plant coffee for long-term income while also rearing animals. This approach aims to maximize the use of the newly launched Kimilili Integrated Animal Feeds Plant, thereby boosting household incomes and fostering sustainable economic development. He emphasized the significance of the coffee value chain in empowering farmers and reiterated his administration's dedication to revitalizing the sector through cooperatives and market connections.
Governor Lusaka expressed confidence in coffee farming's potential to transform livelihoods in Bungoma County. 'My government is committed to supporting farmers by linking them to markets for better returns,' he affirmed. Later, the governor presided over the operationalization of the Kimilili Integrated Animal Feeds Plant at Chebukwabi, Kimilili Sub-County, where he encouraged residents to utilize the facility to enhance livestock productivity and reduce costs.
The governor noted that the plant would alleviate the need for farmers to source feeds from distant locations. 'This facility is here to strengthen local value chains and improve farmers' earnings,' said Lusaka, reiterating his government's commitment to fostering agricultural diversification and sustainability.