Smallholder farmers in Migori tipped on using state equipment to reduce losses

MAKOKHA KHAOYA-KNA

Small-scale farmers in Migori have been urged to make use of government agricultural facilities and equipment to help reduce post-harvest losses.

Kenya Industrial Research Development Institute (KIRDI) Migori Official Neil Okumu, called upon the county residents to utilise the Migori-KIRDI facility and its installed equipment to safeguard their produce and minimise post-harvest losses.

The facility, located on the outskirts of Migori town, has a cereal dryer, for drying soyabeans, groundnuts, sunflower, millet, and sorghum, a mixer for animal, poultry, and fish feeds and other post-harvest equipment.

Ms. Okumu, who trained a farmer’s group from Suna East Sub-County, encouraged other farmers to visit the facility to learn about value chain addition and market linkages to increase profits and grow their businesses.

She said that the continuous food research by KIRDI will equip farmers with skills and knowledge on how to improve their production through different value chains to promote the agricultural sector and make Kenya food secure.

“We are encouraging small-scale farmers, groups and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) to always seek advice from KIRDI on areas of food research, processing, market links and business compliance to safeguard food security,”the official said.