Nakuru Deputy Governor Joseph Ruto (Centre, Managing Director Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service Dr Esther Kimani and Nakuru ASK Chair Margaret Anami (right), Nakuru CeCs Dr.Stanley Chpekwony- Agriculture and Stephen Maritim-ICT during Media briefing on Thursday at the KEPHIS stand at the Nakuru show grounds.New innovation and technology in Agriculture will help boost production as well as help address food security in Nakuru county and Nation at large.
Speaking on Thursday at the ongoing Nakuru ASK show, Nakuru County Deputy Governor Joseph Ruto said the challenge of food security in the county, as well as country, can be addressed if Kenyans will adopt the new innovation and technology in agriculture.
The DG commended the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service for coming up with a system that can monitor and know genuinely certified seeds saying this will ensure healthy production.
“I have noted a lot of innovation and I must commend KEPHIS which has come up with a system to monitor genuine and fake seeds,” he said.
While reiterating the importance of the ASK show, the DG took the opportunity to appeal to Nakuru residents to make good use of the opportunity to learn new innovative ways in farming in order to improve production.
He said the dry spell that had been experienced in Nakuru and some parts of the country can be addressed if farmers will embrace new technology and innovative farming without merely relying on the rain water.
“I am encouraging Nakuru residents to make good use of this opportunity and learn new innovative ways of farming to improve our production hence address food security in Nakuru and nation,” he said.
Dr Esther Kimani-the Managing Director Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service on her part called on Farmers to make good use of the new system of identifying genuine seeds that are certified.
She said the system will enable farmers have certified seeds that will boost high-quality production hence address the food security.
“The farmers when they buy the seeds they can get the label, scratch it and find a 12 digits number which they can sms to 1393 and it will tell you whether it is certified or not,” she said.
The ongoing Nakuru Agricultural show entered Day 3 on Thursday and is expected to close on Saturday 8th July 2017.