County Government have been urged to invest on agricultural extension services in order to address food insecurity in the country.
During a Devolution and a right to food case study launch in Nairobi, different stakeholders noted that extension service have been neglected in many counties.
Since devolution came into place, extension services which were under the national Government have been sidelined leaving farmers clueless in their farming ventures.
Jeremiah Namuyu, CES Agriculture Irrigation and Cooperatives Development Kakamega County said extension services were very crucial to the farmers.
“County Governments have a role to play in creating an enabling environment, extension services have been affected since devolution,” said Namunyu.
Namunyu called on county Governments to factor in their budgets the extension services and also create effective ways of impacting information to farmers.
He noted that little funding were going to such services which were very crucial to farmers in their faming ventures.
Namunyu further said training of staffs was equally important in reaching out millions of farmers in rural areas if they are to make meaningful gains in agriculture.
“As a result food insecurity continues to be one of the biggest challenge facing Kenya today in a country that relies on on agriculture as one of its leading activity,” he added.
Kakamega CES Agriculture Rachael OKumu said lack of extension services in counties has left farmers un informed effective farming methods and market dynamics.
“Kakamega County has mapped stakeholders involved in agriculture to ensure there is available reports and datas to help local farmers,” said Okumu
She urged different stakeholders helping farmers on sustainable farming methods to involve and partner with county Governments, this will ensure effective dissemination of information to farmers.
“They are doing a lot on the ground but there are no documentation, because they do not give us reports,we urge them to partner with us when they come on the ground,” she added.
The report which centered on Western counties of Bungoma,Busia,Kakamega,Kisumu and Homabay urges the Government to increase budget allocation towards agriculture and also ensure meaningful public participation.
