KENYA—Residents of Lugari Sub-County in Kakamega County have been urged to embrace sunflower farming as part of a government initiative to increase local edible oil production.

Lugari Deputy County Commissioner Simon Mutai and Chekalini Ward Agriculture Officer Linet Kiyari made this call to action during a public baraza held at Koromait in Chekalini location.

The initiative is part of a five-year edible oil crops promotion project implemented by the Agriculture and Food Authority in collaboration with selected counties.

Mutai emphasized the irony of Kenya’s reliance on imported edible oil despite the country’s fertile soils and favorable weather conditions.

“We are appealing to farmers in the three selected wards of Chekalini, Lumakanda, and Mautuma in Lugari sub-county to seize the opportunity to grow sunflowers,” he stated.

He highlighted that sunflower farming provides economic benefits and a sustainable source of cooking oil for households.

The government has recognized the potential of sunflower as a viable crop and has begun supporting farmers.

Many registered farmers in the targeted wards have received free seeds from the Kenya Seed Company, facilitating their entry into sunflower cultivation.

Kiyari noted that the government is investing heavily in this crop due to the significant amount spent on edible oil imports.

 “The government has been spending a lot on importation hence the need to sensitize and encourage farmers to revert to sunflower and other edible crops farming,” she explained.

Historically, farmers had abandoned sunflower cultivation due to market challenges. However, Kiyari assured that the government is addressing these issues by working with the Agriculture and Food Authority to handle marketing.

“Initially farmers abandoned sunflower due to market challenges but now the government has asked the Agriculture and Food Authority to do the marketing,” she said, encouraging farmers to diversify their activities, as sunflowers take only about three months to mature.

Kiyari also addressed concerns raised by village elders regarding the challenges posed by birds during the early stages of sunflower growth.

She dismissed these claims, stating that “the major challenge was on marketing. Birds are only a challenge for two to three weeks. However, the marketing challenge is being worked upon as the county government negotiates prices with potential buyers.”

Additionally, plans are underway to acquire oil extraction machines stationed close to farmers, allowing them to process their oil locally.

Similarly, Nakuru County is also promoting the cultivation of canola and sunflower to reduce its reliance on imported edible oils.

Led by Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries CEC Leonard Bor, this initiative aims to address the country’s unmet demand for these oil crops.

“Kenya spends at least Sh160 billion annually to import edible oils from other countries, mainly Southeast Asian nations,” Bor stated.

The Nakuru initiative includes distributing subsidised fertilisers and seedlings to farmers, enhancing their earnings and creating job opportunities in oil crop production.

The edible oil crops promotion project aims to enhance the availability of affordable and quality inputs, provide technical production support, and facilitate cottage-level processing.

Sunflower, which adapts well to various ecological zones in Kenya, is a crucial crop for achieving self-sufficiency in edible oil production.

The project is expected to create employment opportunities in seed distribution, production, aggregation, transportation, warehousing, and agro-processing.

The initiative is anticipated to increase the domestically produced edible oil from the current 80,000 metric tonnes to 240,000 metric tonnes over the next five years.

This will be complemented by producing 1.5 million metric tonnes of soya beans, canola, and sunflower seeds for oil extraction.

As the government pushes for increased local production, the hope is that farmers in both Lugari and Nakuru will embrace sunflower and canola farming, contributing to local economies and national food security.

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