Siaya distributes 200 tonnes of certified seeds to farmers

Siaya County Government has started distributing free certified seeds to local farmers ahead of the rainy season.

Governor James Orengo says the move, together with the subsidised tractor services, will enhance food security in the county.

Soon, he added, the devolved unit will also distribute fertiliser ahead of the planting season.

Speaking during the flagging off of the seeds on Tuesday, the governor challenged Siaya residents to embrace agribusiness to improve their lives.

“We encourage our people to transit from subsistence farming to a more commercialised type of farming,” said Orengo adding that the locals can derive their basic food and nutrition needs from farming and sell the surplus.

Orengo said his government will also subsidise other sectors such as the blue economy and rice farming, adding that arrangements are in place to procure fish feed.

On rice farming, he said his government was committed to enhancing value addition chains.

Orengo added that the process of procuring a rice mill for the Usonga rice farmers was on going and soon, the farmers will not have to dispose of their crop to middle-men at throw away prices.

He later presided over the seed distribution exercise at Sigomere and Urenga trading centres in Ugunja and Ugenya sub-counties where he assured Siaya residents of enough seed.