Vihiga: Residents of Vihiga County have been urged to make good use of their farms by embracing smart agricultural practices to improve production. Vihiga County Director of Agriculture Reuben Chumba asked residents to fully exploit the potentials of their farms by practising sound agricultural techniques to realise higher yields.

According to Kenya News Agency, Chumba noted that even though most farms in Vihiga County are small in size, they could yield good returns if properly managed. He emphasized the importance of taking advantage of the ongoing rains in the current planting season by preparing farms on time, planting certified seeds, and utilizing both organic and inorganic fertilizers to boost yields.

Chumba advocated for intercropping maize with beans, highlighting the benefits of nitrogen fixation and crop rotation in reducing or eradicating weeds and parasites that might develop from planting the same crops annually. He also stressed the importance of soil testing to determine pH levels and the appropriate fertilizers required.

'Most of you have never taken your soil for testing; you just use fertiliser without taking into account the deficiency your soil lacks so that you seek advice on the right fertiliser to use,' Chumba remarked. He further encouraged farmers to embrace traditional crops like sweet potatoes, cassava, finger millet, and sorghum to enhance food security.

Chumba also advised the cultivation of indigenous vegetables and the establishment of cooperative societies, which would allow farmers to market their produce in larger towns such as Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret, thereby economically empowering them.