Nyeri governor, Mutahi Kahiga, has flagged off a fleet of eight motorcycles worth Sh3.6 million which are aimed at boosting the delivery of agricultural extension services within the county.
The County Department of Agriculture now boasts of a fleet of 30 motorcycles with the Governor noting that the move will go a long way in strengthening the capacity of extension officers to reach some of the far-flung wards within the county. Kahiga said that the move will also ensure that the department achieves its target of having at least one motorbike providing extension services for each of the county’s 32 wards.
“Everybody must start feeling the presence of extension officers. The acquisition of these eight motorbikes will help us achieve our target of having at least a motorbike per ward so that the farmers around the ward benefit from extension services,” said the county boss.
Kahiga also reiterated his pledge to improve the agricultural sector. He revealed plans to employ some 210 agripreneurs who will work together with the 87 crop and livestock officers to advise farmers on the latest farming technologies and crop varieties as a way of increasing production and boosting the county’s food security.
He at the same time challenged the farmers to utilize the enhanced technical advice extended to them.
“It will be a waste of money for us to invest in this kind of fleet yet they (the people of Nyeri) do not put it to use. We urge the farmers to reach out to these officers,” stated Kahiga.
On his part, the County Executive Committee Member in charge of Agriculture, James Wachihi acknowledged that the demand for technical advice by farmers had dwindled due to low publicity. He said that in addition to supporting the provision of extension services to farmers, his department will use the motorbikes to publicize the once popular extension services within the county.
“We have been saying that extension today is more on demand driven and we want our farmers to demand for services from the county. Part of the objective with this fleet is to create visibility so that our farmers know that extension services from the government still exist,” said Wachihi.
By Wangari Mwangi and Geofrey Chaura