Nairobi: Farmers within the Kerio Valley region have been urged to embrace and adopt climate-smart crops and seedlings to ensure increased income and production. Speaking on the sidelines of ASK Show, Baringo Branch, Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) Managing Director Sammy Naporos emphasized the importance of this move in light of the current climate change challenges faced by the region, which is 80 percent Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) and suffers from acute water shortages.
According to Kenya News Agency, Naporos encouraged farmers to plant resilient crops such as sorghum, mango fruits, and African foxtail grass, which require minimal water and can yield a bountiful harvest despite climate shocks. This call to action came after KVDA received six prestigious awards at the agricultural show, presided over by Governor Benjamin Cheboi.
Naporos highlighted the authority's dedication to addressing climate change across its seven counties of operation, urging farmers to contribute actively to these efforts. He pointed out that African fox grass, promoted for livestock, requires just a week of rain, allowing farmers to harvest 150 bales per acre twice a season.
He further mentioned that KVDA has intensified training programs for local farmers to enhance their capacity to benefit from cash crops, livestock, and other regional resources. Key achievements by the authority include the establishment of solar-powered boreholes and water pans, which have significantly mitigated issues related to banditry and cattle rustling.
Governor Cheboi expressed his administration's support for modern agricultural technologies to enhance productivity, sustainability, and food security within the county. He emphasized the potential high income from cash crops like coffee and macadamia in the highland areas, which could transform local livelihoods.
KVDA's achievements were recognized at the Agricultural Show in Kabarnet town, where it won awards for the best stand demonstrating environmental quality standards, government social functions, community project services, national cohesion and integration development, and local manufacturing excellence.