Mwea farmers trained on modern agricultural techniques

Agitech, an independent seedlings company, in partnership with other companies, has conducted a grand agricultural expo in Mutithi, Kirinyaga County, to equip the farmers with knowledge on how to deal with current challenges and empower the farmers with new ideas on farming.William Ngeno, Yara Company Chief Executive Officer (CEO), which was one of the partners, says that Agitech Expo 2024 is meant to give farmers new ways on how they can grow their crops and equip them with the right knowledge to increase yields.'Farmers have a chance to learn and look at farming in a different way. Through Agitech, farmers will learn how to use different fertilisers for different crops and also have different varieties to choose from,' explained Ngeno.The CEO said among the major attractions of the expo were live demonstrations of the Farmcare Platform, which is a digital farming mobile accessible application that supports farmers in making proper decisions on their farming.The app, he says, offers easily understood crop cycles, weather forecasts, and a fertiliser calculator, adding that, in partnership with MPESA, it is now easy for farmers to transact through Farmcare, thus easily helping them scale up their businesses.Ngeno further said that in the past years farming had lost its grip on production, saying that with such an Expo like planned by Agitec, farmers will have solutions to their woes.'The Agitech Centre serves one of Yara's knowledge centres, where farmers learn practically about sustainable water management, improving soil health, and any other farming techniques based on the challenges they face. The centre also affords them the chance to experiment with crop rotation techniques, check on the balance between fertiliser input and expected yields, and assess what they can take back to their farms to increase both their yields and their income,' he said.James Mwaniki, a maize farmer based in Embu, thanked Agitech Expo for the forum, citing that it has given him exposure on best farming practices.Mwani ki called on the government to conduct more agricultural trainings regularly, saying this will ensure that the farmers have been equipped with relevant knowledge necessary to maximise productivity in their farms.Dr. Matthew Mwangi of Kerugoya Fortis Medical and Cancer Centre says there has been an increase in different illnesses related to agrochemical products, such as cancer.As a health provider, he urged farmers to attend such agricultural trainings so that they can learn from agrochemical manufacturers and trainers on basic knowledge on how to handle agrochemicals and fertilisers.'My call to farmers: let's not use large amounts of chemicals, as they will have negative side effects on their bodies. Let's take care of ourselves today, and it will take care of us tomorrow,' said Dr. Mwangi.Source: Kenya News Agency