Government to distribute over 5 million avocado, macadamia seedlings to farmers.

The government plans to start distributing 5 million free avocado and macadamia seedlings in efforts to help farmers tap already secured market in Asia and South Africa.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri says that the government plans to put up hundreds of water pans across the country to avail water for domestic use as well as support farming activities.
According to the CS, the government will supply horticultural farmers across the country with 5 million seedlings of avocado and macadamia adding that Kenya already has a ready market for its horticultural produce in China and South Africa.
Billions of shillings has been spent on irrigation projects in Baringo, Embu, and Murang’a and is expected to cover the entire country progressively.

The Cs added that the ministry of Agriculture is revisiting irrigation and projects around the country that had stalled as a result of insufficient funds and less-than-through-jobs done by contractors. Some of these projects that had stalled include Lower Kithengi in Embu County that is 67 percent complete. 

He added that they will progressively expand the capacity of irrigation schemes to increase food productivity.

Meanwhile, local seed companies will from next year start selling seeds across the COMESA region after member states endorsed a common label.

COMESA regional seed programme coordinator John Mukuka says the labeling is aimed at weeding out counterfeit seeds from the market and increase trade between member states.

Trade in seeds across the globe is valued at 8 trillion shillings with the COMESA region only accounting for 2 percent of the total trade. 

Among issues slowing trade in seeds in the COMESA region has been poor quality produce.