Governor George Natembeya has acknowledged the pressing agricultural challenges facing Trans Nzoia County, despite its reputation as Kenya’s “Grain Basket.” Speaking during a Zoom meeting with representatives from ROKOSAN Organic Fertilizer, Governor Natembeya highlighted the difficulties farmers encounter in accessing high-quality farm inputs, including certified seeds and fertilizers.
Governor Natembeya noted that maize yields in the county have significantly declined from 40 bags per acre to just 15-20 bags per acre. He attributed this drop to soil fertility issues and the high cost of farming inputs, which has led to the use of suboptimal amounts of fertilizer.
In response to these challenges, Governor Natembeya welcomed a partnership with ROKOSAN Organic Fertilizer to provide affordable and high-quality fertilizers to local farmers. He emphasized that the establishment of an organic fertilizer plant in Trans Nzoia would be a significant milestone for the county and the country at large. The governor assured the investors of the availability of raw materials such as cow dung, chicken waste, and other animal by-products.
Governor Natembeya also mentioned that the National Government is collaborating with the county to develop industrial and aggregation centers, with construction already underway for the Trans Nzoia center. He invited ROKOSAN to establish their operations within this center. The governor underscored the positive impact the factory would have on the local economy, including job creation and other social benefits. He also highlighted that the presence of the ROKOSAN plant would reduce the cost of farm inputs, encouraging more people to engage in farming.
Representatives from ROKOSAN, Gabriela Vlcanova and Samuel Vlcanova, expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership and confirmed that discussions with county agriculture officials are ongoing. They announced that a consignment of 20 bags of organic fertilizer had already been shipped for testing by the county government and selected farmers. ROKOSAN, a company with decades of experience in Slovakia, has received positive feedback from farmers using their products. The representatives plan to visit Trans Nzoia County soon to finalize the collaboration details.
This partnership marks a promising step towards revitalizing agriculture in Trans Nzoia County and ensuring sustainable farming practices for the future.
On her part, Trans Nzoia County CEC for Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation, Phanice Khatundi, said this is a milestone for the people of Trans Nzoia, adding that for quite a long time they have been yearning to have a fertilizer factory in the county. CEC Khatundi said with the establishment of the factory in the county, it will provide affordable farm inputs for farmers in Trans Nzoia and neighboring counties, hence increasing food production and ensuring food security in the country. The CEC said the partnership will also enable knowledge exchange programs between county officials and farmers.
