The government says it is considering buying rice held by small-scale farmers in the Lake Basin region as it steps up preparations for possible flooding during the El Niño and La Niña rains.
Principal Secretary for the East African Community, Dr Caroline Karugu, said the proposed purchases would help farmers sell their produce while strengthening the country’s food security.
Dr Karugu spoke during a visit to the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA), where she inspected rice milling facilities and other agricultural projects.
She said more than Sh 300 million had been paid to rice farmers in the region over the past year.
The authority has processed more than 4,800 tonnes of rice, but farmers still have substantial stocks stored in their homes and granaries, she said.
“We are looking into absorption of rice paddies that could be sitting in their granaries and in their homes,” Dr Karugu said.
The government is also preparing measures to protect communities and crops in flood-prone areas around the Nyando and Homa Bay river basins.
The LBDA has already constructed 10km of dykes and plans to build a further 9km in Nyando, Muhoroni and Homa Bay, according to Dr Karugu.
The planned works will include 3km each in Nyando, Muhoroni and Homa Bay County.
Dr Karugu urged residents living near river basins to work with local chiefs and county commissioners to identify communities at risk and prepare for possible flooding.
She also advised households to dry and store food in preparation for the rains.
The government is working with county administrations on public awareness and disaster preparedness programmes, she said.
Poultry project
During her visit, Dr Karugu also toured the LBDA’s Centre of Excellence for poultry farming, which promotes agricultural research, technology transfer and skills development.
The centre has more than 10,000 birds and produces about 100 trays of eggs a day, according to the PS.
It is working with three youth groups in Kisumu County on brooding, after which the birds are taken through finishing and egg production.
Dr Karugu said the projects were intended to create economic opportunities for local communities while transferring agricultural knowledge and developing new technologies.
The LBDA will also distribute more than 20,000 fruit tree seedlings through the county commissioner’s office.
The programme forms part of President William Ruto’s efforts to increase county’s tree and forest cover, with fruit trees prioritised because of their potential economic benefits to households.
LBDA Managing Director Wycliffe Ochiang said the authority was committed to promoting climate-smart agriculture to improve food security.
He said the authority would continue implementing climate action programmes and other development projects across the Lake Basin region.
On poultry, Ochiaga highlighted efforts to strengthen poultry production and agricultural development in the Lake Basing region.
The facility is also undergoing expansion to accommodate an additional 5,000 birds, part of efforts by the authority to increase poultry production and support agricultural development in the Lake Basin region.
“Agriculture is built on consistency, hard work and being present,” Ochiaga said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining production while investing in future growth.
The LBDA says the expansion is expected to strengthen the centre’s role in poultry production and contribute to sustainable agricultural development in the region.
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